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Comparative genomics uncover the evolutionary history of butterfly and moth chromosomes

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Using over 200 chromosomal genomes to reconstruct 250 million years of evolutionary history, we define the 32 linkage groups (Merian elements) that were present in the ancestor of Lepidoptera. We chart the dynamics of chromosome fusion and fission that accompanied the global diversification of Lepidoptera.

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Fig. 1: Widespread conservation of Merian elements in Lepidoptera with intermittent fusion events.

References

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This is a summary of: Wright, C. J. et al. Comparative genomics reveals the dynamics of chromosome evolution in Lepidoptera. Nat. Ecol. Evol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02329-4 (2024)

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Comparative genomics uncover the evolutionary history of butterfly and moth chromosomes. Nat Ecol Evol 8, 612–613 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02341-8

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