Transcriptomic analysis of cave, surface, and hybrid samples of the isopod Asellus aquaticus and identification of chromosomal location of candidate genes for cave phenotype evolution.

Background: Transcriptomic methods can be used to elucidate genes and pathways responsible for phenotypic differences between populations. Asellus aquaticus is a freshwater isopod crustacean with surface- and cave-dwelling ecomorphs that differ greatly in multiple phenotypes including pigmentation and eye size. Multiple genetic resources have been generated for this species, but the genes and pathways responsible for cave-specific characteristics have not yet been identified.