An inordinate fondness: understanding insect evolution through genomics

Insects are the most diverse groups of animals on earth. The staggering number of species, range of life history traits, and array of niches they inhabit make them a remarkable model for understanding the processes of genotype-to-phenotype evolution. In recent years, the rapid expansion of chromosome-level genomes from a phylogenetically broad sampling of insects has opened new research questions not previously possible. In this talk I will focus on the order Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) which represents one of the most diverse insect groups with over 160,000 described species. The diversity in form and behaviour within this clade can be attributed to adaptations at the genetic level. I will give results showing the diverse applications of the large genomic resource for this order, including a genotype-to-phenotype analysis and a genome-wide analysis. First, using both genomic and transcriptomic data, I attempt to uncover the genetic underpinnings and consequences of convergent evolution of winglessness in female moths. Finally, I will show results on genome-wide patterns of gene evolution across a broad sampling of lepidopteran species to assess the tempo and mode of gene evolution as well as gene order and structure across their genomes.