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Published at:
<a href="http://www.k-state.edu/agc/symp2010/Abstracts-2010.pdf">
http://www.k-state.edu/agc/symp2010/Abstracts-2010.pdf</a> <br>
But the research documented here is stated to be "as of April,
2010" -- and considerable advances have happened since. Prepare for
more news soon! Danaus and Melitaea genome projects threaten the status
of Heliconius as "first butterfly genome."<br>
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53<br>
The first butterfly genome? Process and progress in the complete genomic
sequencing of Heliconius melpomene, the long-wing passion-flower
butterfly.<br><br>
*Walters, James R.; Heliconius Genome Consortium<br>
University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Cambridge, United
Kingdom<br><br>
Heliconius butterflies have been a model system for ecological and
evolutionary research for over 150 years. They are known as a ‘textbook’
example of mimicry where polymorphic wing color patterns within species
repeatedly converged between species. Ongoing quantitative, population,
and developmental genomic investigations of speciation, wing-coloration,
mate choice, and other adaptive phenotypes make Heliconius butterflies a
prominent emerging model genomic system.<br><br>
Here we report on our strategy and progress in generating a complete
genomic sequence for H. melpomene. This sequencing effort was initiated
less than 2 years ago and reflects a collaboration between the broader
Heliconius genetics research community and the Baylor Human Genome
Sequencing Center. The 295 Mbp genome of H. melpomene is being sequenced
entirely with ‘next generation’ technologies, primarily via 454 but with
some Solexa data also to be included.<br>
As of April, 2010 we have generated 6.7 Gbp of 454 sequences which
corresponds to ~20x coverage. A Newbler assembly of the data yielded
~14,000 scaffolds with N50 = 62 Kbp and ~105 contigs with N50 = 8.1 Kbp.
Ongoing 454 sequencing of an 8 Kbp mate-pair library and additional
Solexa runs are expected to substantially improve the assembly in the
near future. Scaffolds will be anchored and ordered along the chromosomes
via RAD-tag genotyping of a F2 mapping family generated from the
sequenced H. melpomene strain. RNA-seq data from several tissues will
complement existing Sanger and 454 ESTs from wing tissues to guide genome
annotation efforts, which will be conducted in collaboration with EBI’s
Ensembl Genomes initiative.<br><br>
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<font face="Arial, Helvetica">________________________________<br><br>
James Mallet<br>
UCL<br>
<a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/taxome/jim" eudora="autourl">
www.ucl.ac.uk/taxome/jim</a></font> </body>
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