Project description:Transcriptomes of ichneumonid parasitoid wasps
| PRJNA450386 | ENA
Project description:Phylogenomic reconstruction reveals new insights into the evolution and biogeography of Atta leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Project description:A phylogenomic perspective on the Systematics of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera), with emphasis on Sphaeropthalminae (genome sequencing and assembly)
Project description:DNA methylation is an important chromatin modification that is necessary for the structural integrity and proper regulation of the genome for many species. Despite its conservation across the tree of life, little is known about its contribution to complex traits. Reports that differences in DNA methylation between castes in closely related Hymenopteran insects (ants, bees and wasps) contributes to social behaviors has generated hypotheses on the role of DNA methylation in governing social behavior. However, social behavior has evolved multiple times across insecta, and a common role of DNA methylation in social behavior remains outstanding. Using phylogenetic comparative methods we sought to better understand patterns of DNA methylation and social behavior across insects. DNA methylation can be found in social and solitary insects from all orders, except Diptera (flies), which suggests a shared loss of DNA methylation within this order. The lack of DNA methylation is reflected in the absence of the maintenance and de novo DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) 1 and 3, respectively. Interestingly, DNA methylation is found in species without DNMT3. DNA methylation and social behavior (social/solitary) or with division of labor (caste+/caste–) for 123 insect species analyzed from 11 orders are not evolutionary dependent, which is further supported by sequencing of DNA methylomes from 40 species.
Project description:Here we reveal evidence of a shared genetic toolkit across the full spectrum of social complexity found in Vespid wasps, from simple group living where castes remain plastic throughout life, to complex superorganismal societies comprised of mutually dependent insects with irreversible castes determined during development. We generated brain transcriptomic data for castes in nine representative species; using a machine learning approach we identified thousands of shared orthologs which consistently describe castes (queens and workers), from species with the simplest (Mischocyttarus paper wasps) to the most complex (e.g. Vespine wasps) levels of social organisation. The top 400 genes were enriched in synaptic transport genes, suggesting that these changes could affect brain neural function and connectivity. Fine-scale dissection of these patterns revealed that the molecular processes underpinning the simpler societies (which likely represent the origins of social living) are conserved throughout the major transition, but that additional processes may come into play in the more complex societies, especially at the point of no return where societies transition to be committed superorganisms. These analyses provide the first evidence of a conserved toolkit regulating social behaviour across the full spectrum of social complexity in any social insect. Importantly, they also provide evidence that there may be fundamental differences discriminating superorganismal societies from non-superorganismal societies. We suggest that the evolution of irreversible caste commitment (in superorganisms) is accompanied by a fundamental shift in the underlying regulatory molecular machinery; such shifts may also typify other major evolutionary transitions that are characterised by the emergence of a committed division of labour, such as the evolution of multicellularity.
2021-01-31 | GSE159973 | GEO
Project description:Phylogenomic Study of Cephalotes Turtle Ants Using UCEs
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE31344: smRNA sequencing of queen and virgin queen of two ants: Camponotus floridanus and Harpegnathos saltator GSE31346: Transcriptome sequencing of queen and virgin queen of two ants: Camponotus floridanus and Harpegnathos saltator GSE31576: Single base resolution methylome of two ants: Camponotus floridanus and Harpegnathos saltator Refer to individual Series
Project description:Seasonal photoperiodic changes have strong impact on development in Nasonia vitripennis. Here, Using high-throughput Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS) and single-molecule-based sequencing, we generated DNA methylation maps of female wasps maintained in long vs short day. We have identified differential methylated loci that encode the photoperiodic change. analysis of DNA methylation in female wasps maintained in long vs short day, using RRBS followed by Illumina sequencing