Claudio Casola
@ccasola.bsky.social
#BlackLivesMatter Associate Professor, evolutionary genomics @TAMU. views my own. he/him.
December 17, 2024 at 6:55 PM
Super fun collaborating with @coleoguy.bsky.social, Lynne Rieske and many others on this project!
10/10
10/10
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Super fun collaborating with @coleoguy.bsky.social, Lynne Rieske and many others on this project!
10/10
10/10
Key take home messages:
1. High-quality new genome of SPB
2. Stevens elements conservation in Dendroctonus
3. Widespread gene losses and gains, role in adapation?
4. Lower gene content in Dendroctonus due to gene losses, fewer new gene families
5. Lots of misannotated genes in other beetles
9/
1. High-quality new genome of SPB
2. Stevens elements conservation in Dendroctonus
3. Widespread gene losses and gains, role in adapation?
4. Lower gene content in Dendroctonus due to gene losses, fewer new gene families
5. Lots of misannotated genes in other beetles
9/
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Key take home messages:
1. High-quality new genome of SPB
2. Stevens elements conservation in Dendroctonus
3. Widespread gene losses and gains, role in adapation?
4. Lower gene content in Dendroctonus due to gene losses, fewer new gene families
5. Lots of misannotated genes in other beetles
9/
1. High-quality new genome of SPB
2. Stevens elements conservation in Dendroctonus
3. Widespread gene losses and gains, role in adapation?
4. Lower gene content in Dendroctonus due to gene losses, fewer new gene families
5. Lots of misannotated genes in other beetles
9/
But the most surprising finding came from non-Dendroctonus beetles. Many of these genomes contain thousands of genes encoding proteins with transposable element domains (TEs). Further analyses show that these are likely annotation artifacts rather than domesticated TE genes.
8/
8/
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
But the most surprising finding came from non-Dendroctonus beetles. Many of these genomes contain thousands of genes encoding proteins with transposable element domains (TEs). Further analyses show that these are likely annotation artifacts rather than domesticated TE genes.
8/
8/
Instead, we found that widespread gene loss and a low rate of novel gene families formation could explain the diminished gene content in Dendroctonus.
7/
7/
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Instead, we found that widespread gene loss and a low rate of novel gene families formation could explain the diminished gene content in Dendroctonus.
7/
7/
Intriguingly, SPB and other Dendroctonus species seemed to have fewer genes than most other sequenced beetles. We ruled out annotation errors in Dendroctonus due to artifacts and biases.
6/
6/
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Intriguingly, SPB and other Dendroctonus species seemed to have fewer genes than most other sequenced beetles. We ruled out annotation errors in Dendroctonus due to artifacts and biases.
6/
6/
We found a range of gene gains and losses both in SPB and in Dendroctonus that may be involved in specific adaptations and possibly in its aggressive behavior. Many conserved genes have been lost in this genus (lots more details are in the paper).
5/
5/
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
We found a range of gene gains and losses both in SPB and in Dendroctonus that may be involved in specific adaptations and possibly in its aggressive behavior. Many conserved genes have been lost in this genus (lots more details are in the paper).
5/
5/
Second, we wanted to know what the SPB genome can tell us about its tree-killing habit, given that SPB is the most destructive forest pest in the southeastern US with outbreaks that have greatly impacted loblolly pine commercial and natural forests.
4/
4/
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Second, we wanted to know what the SPB genome can tell us about its tree-killing habit, given that SPB is the most destructive forest pest in the southeastern US with outbreaks that have greatly impacted loblolly pine commercial and natural forests.
4/
4/
First, Dendroctonus shows extreme karyotypic variation and multiple lineages that evolved neo-XY chromosomes.
Despite this variation, we confirmed that the core coleopteran Stevens elements are conserved in SPB, and we identified the bona fide SPB X chromosome.
3/
Despite this variation, we confirmed that the core coleopteran Stevens elements are conserved in SPB, and we identified the bona fide SPB X chromosome.
3/
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
First, Dendroctonus shows extreme karyotypic variation and multiple lineages that evolved neo-XY chromosomes.
Despite this variation, we confirmed that the core coleopteran Stevens elements are conserved in SPB, and we identified the bona fide SPB X chromosome.
3/
Despite this variation, we confirmed that the core coleopteran Stevens elements are conserved in SPB, and we identified the bona fide SPB X chromosome.
3/
SPB is one of about 6,500 species of so-called bark beetles, subfamily Scolytinae. Most bark beetles are non-aggressive, but the genus Dendroctonus, which literally means ‘tree killer’, contains a number of species that can generate devastating outbreaks (hence the name..)
2/
2/
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 PM
SPB is one of about 6,500 species of so-called bark beetles, subfamily Scolytinae. Most bark beetles are non-aggressive, but the genus Dendroctonus, which literally means ‘tree killer’, contains a number of species that can generate devastating outbreaks (hence the name..)
2/
2/