The Heliconius Genome Consortium* pooled funds to sequence the genome of the butterfly genus Heliconius, published in Nature this week. Panama’s Heliconius melpomene is a model for understanding how the stunning diversity of wing color patterns in tropical butterflies evolved. “What we discovered is that one butterfly species can gain its protective colour pattern genes ready-made from a different species by hybridizing with it,” said Kanchon Dasmahapatra, former STRI fellow.
An analysis by Adriana Briscoe at the University of California showed that Heliconius has an even greater array of genes involved in chemical communication than moths, which depend on chemical signals for finding mates and host plants.
The study heralds a new era in genome biology and an important step in the Smithsonian’s goal to understand and sustain a biodiverse planet. “Assembling a genome from scratch is still hard work: think Humpy-Dumpty,” said STRI’s Owen McMillan, “but it is getting easy, inexpensive, and is transforming how we do science. A reference genome opens up new research possibilities and reveals previously unimagined connections.”
*STRI, Panama: W. Owen McMillan; University of Cambridge, UK: Chris Jiggins; Boston University, USA: Sean Mullen; Harvard University, USA: Marcus Kronforst; University of California at Irvine, USA: Robert Reed, Adriana Briscoe; Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France: Mathieu Joron; University of Edinburgh, UK: Mark Blaxter; University College London, UK, and Harvard University, USA: James Mallet; University of Exeter, UK: Richard ffrench-Constant.
The Heliconius Genome Consortium. Butterfly genome reveals promiscuous exchange of mimicry adaptations among species. 2012. Nature. Doi:10.1038/nature11041. Published online 16 May.
