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Research Themes

Insect Evolution and Genomics Group

Genomics and Genome Analysis

We have played a leading role in the Heliconius Genome Consortium, which has generated a reference sequence for Heliconius melpomene. Our contribution included the scaffolding of the reference genome onto chromosomal linkage groups using a RAD-seq linkage map, and the gene annotation and databasing. We are now working to improve genome scaffolding using full genome sequencing of a large mapping family and long-read sequencing.

This reference genome has opened exciting opportunities to explore the adaptive radiation in these butterflies at a genomic level.

Among 12,657 predicted genes for Heliconius, we found  expansions of families of chemosensory and Hox genes. The diversity of chemosensory proteins in butterfly genomes was particularly surprising given the evolution of diurnal behaviour and greater visual acuity. 

Comparison of synteny between lepidopteran genomes shows that the chromosomal organization of Lepidoptera has remained broadly conserved since the Cretaceous period, when butterflies split from the Bombyx (silkmoth) lineage.

The reference genome has also facilitated studies of hybridisation, speciation genomics and populations genetics – see other research themes for more details.

Linkage map for chromosome 18 and Circos plot showing conserved synteny between Heliconius and Bombyx

Linkage map for chromosome 18 and Circos plot showing conserved synteny between Heliconius and Bombyx

Genomics publications

1.
Darragh, K. et al. A novel terpene synthase controls differences in anti-aphrodisiac pheromone production between closely related Heliconius butterflies. PLOS Biology 19, e3001022 (2021).
1.
Moest, M. et al. Selective sweeps on novel and introgressed variation shape mimicry loci in a butterfly adaptive radiation. PLOS Biology 18, e3000597 (2020).
1.
Pinharanda, A. et al. Sexually dimorphic gene expression and transcriptome evolution provide mixed evidence for a fast-Z effect in Heliconius. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 32, 194–204 (2019).
1.
Jiggins, C. D. A flamboyant behavioral polymorphism is controlled by a lethal supergene. Nat Genet 48, 7–8 (2016).
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Jiggins, C. D. Evolutionary biology: Radiating genomes. Nature 513, 318–319 (2014).
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Welch, J. J. & Jiggins, C. D. Standing and flowing: the complex origins of adaptive variation. Mol Ecol 23, 3935–3937 (2014).
1.
Briscoe, A. D. et al. Female Behaviour Drives Expression and Evolution of Gustatory Receptors in Butterflies. PLoS Genet 9, e1003620 (2013).
1.
The Heliconius Genome Consortium & Jiggins, C. D. Butterfly genome reveals promiscuous exchange of mimicry adaptations among species. Nature 487, 94–98 (2012).
1.
Surridge, A. et al. Characterisation and expression of microRNAs in developing wings of the neotropical butterfly Heliconius melpomene. BMC Genomics 12, 62 (2011).
1.
Papanicolaou, A., Gebauer-Jung, S., Blaxter, M. L., Owen McMillan, W. & Jiggins, C. D. ButterflyBase: a platform for lepidopteran genomics. Nucleic Acids Res 36, D582-7 (2008).
1.
Papanicolaou, A., Joron, M., McMillan, W. O., Blaxter, M. L. & Jiggins, C. D. Genomic tools and cDNA derived markers for butterflies. Mol Ecol 14, 2883–97 (2005).

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