Morphological and DNA analysis of pollen grains on butterfly individuals reveal their flower visitation history.

Many butterfly species are conspicuous flower visitors. However, understanding their flower visitation patterns in natural habitats remains challenging due to the difficulty of tracking individual butterflies. Therefore, we aimed at establishing a protocol to solve the problem using the Common five-ring butterfly, Ypthima argus (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae).

Evolutionary Novelties in Bacteria and the Missing Backdrop of the Environment.

Evolutionary novelty has been one of the central themes in the field of evolutionary biology for many years. Structural and functional innovations such as scales in the reptiles, fins in the fishes and mammary glands in the mammals have been the focus of the studies. Insights obtained from these studies have shaped the criterion for the identification of novelty as well as provide the framework for studying novelty.

Deciphering the biosynthetic pathway of triterpene saponins in Prunella vulgaris.

The traditional Chinese medicinal plant Prunella vulgaris contains numerous triterpene saponin metabolites, notably ursolic and oleanolic acid saponins, which have significant pharmacological values. Despite their importance, the genes responsible for synthesizing these triterpene saponins in P. vulgaris remain unidentified.

Genomic, Evolutionary, and Pathogenic Characterization of a New in Traditional Chinese Medicine .

, a medicinal herbaceous plant documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is a promising candidate for research into plant-derived pharmaceuticals. However, the study of newly emerging viruses that threaten the cultivation of remains limited. In this study, plants exhibiting symptoms such as leaf yellowing, mottled leaves, and vein chlorosis were collected and subjected to RNA sequencing to identify potential viral pathogens.

Unraveling TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR Transcription Factors in Safflower: A Blueprint for Stress Resilience and Metabolic Regulation.

Safflower ( L.), a versatile medicinal and economic crop, harbors untapped genetic resources essential for stress resilience and metabolic regulation. The TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) transcription factors, exclusive to plants, are pivotal in orchestrating growth, development, and stress responses, yet their roles in safflower remain unexplored.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profile of () Gene Family in L.

The biosynthesis of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), which are essential for sesquiterpenes and triterpenes, respectively, is primarily governed by the mevalonate pathway, wherein () plays a pivotal role. This study identified eight members of the FPS gene family in , designated -, through bioinformatics analysis, revealing their distribution across several chromosomes and a notable tandem gene cluster. The genes exhibited strong hydrophilic properties and key functional motifs crucial for enzyme activity.

Genome-Wide Identification of - () Gene Family and the Potential Function of Under Salt Stress in .

is an important medicinal herb known as a "natural antibiotic", which has been used in Southeast Asia for thousands of years. The () gene is an important regulatory factor for plant photoperiod flowering and stress response. However, there is currently no detailed research on the genes of .

Comprehensive Analysis of the NHX Gene Family and Its Regulation Under Salt and Drought Stress in Quinoa ( Willd.).

: Abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought significantly constrain crop cultivation and affect productivity. Quinoa ( Willd.), a facultative halophyte, exhibits remarkable tolerance to drought and salinity stresses, making it a valued model for understanding stress adaptation mechanisms.

Chromosome-scale genome dynamics reveal signatures of independent haplotype evolution in the ancient asexual mite .

Some unique asexual species persist over time and contradict the consensus that sex is a prerequisite for long-term evolutionary survival. How they escape the dead-end fate remains enigmatic. Here, we generated a haplotype-resolved genome assembly on the basis of a single individual and collected genomic data from worldwide populations of the parthenogenetic diploid oribatid mite to identify signatures of persistence without sex.

A pangenome analysis reveals the center of origin and evolutionary history of Phytophthora infestans and 1c clade species.

We examined the evolutionary history of Phytophthora infestans and its close relatives in the 1c clade. We used whole genome sequence data from 69 isolates of Phytophthora species in the 1c clade and conducted a range of genomic analyses including nucleotide diversity evaluation, maximum likelihood trees, network assessment, time to most recent common ancestor and migration analysis. We consistently identified distinct and later divergence of the two Mexican Phytophthora species, P.

Antiviral Mx proteins have an ancient origin and widespread distribution among eukaryotes.

Mx proteins, first identified in mammals, encode potent antiviral activity against a wide range of viruses. Mx proteins arose within the Dynamin superfamily of proteins (DSP), which mediate critical cellular processes, such as endocytosis and mitochondrial, plastid, and peroxisomal dynamics. Despite their crucial role, the evolutionary origins of Mx proteins are poorly understood.

Discovery of Evolutionary Loss of the Ubiquitin-like Autophagy-Related ATG12 System in a Lineage of Apicomplexa.

The autophagy-related ubiquitin-like conjugation systems, the ATG8 and ATG12 systems, are universally conserved in eukaryotes. However, the covalent bond in the ATG12 system has recently been shown to be evolutionarily lost in Apicomplexa. Here, we show that all genes associated with the ATG12 system are absent in piroplasmida, a lineage within Apicomplexa.

Squamate reptiles may have compensated for the lack of γδTCR with a duplication of the TRB locus.

Squamate reptiles are amongst the most successful terrestrial vertebrate lineages, with over 10,000 species across a broad range of ecosystems. Despite their success, squamates are also amongst the least studied lineages immunologically. Recently, a universal lack of γδ T cells in squamates due to deletions of the genes encoding the T cell receptor (TCR) γ and δ chains was discovered.

Bayesian Inference of Phylogenetic Distances: Revisiting the Eigenvalue Approach.

Using genetic data to infer evolutionary distances between molecular sequence pairs based on a Markov substitution model is a common procedure in phylogenetics, in particular for selecting a good starting tree to improve upon. Many evolutionary patterns can be accurately modelled using substitution models that are available in closed form, including the popular general time reversible model (GTR) for DNA data. For more complex biological phenomena, such as variations in lineage-specific evolutionary rates over time (heterotachy), other approaches such as the GTR with rate variation (GTR ) are required, but do not admit analytical solutions and do not automatically allow for likelihood calculations crucial for Bayesian analysis.

Comparative genomics of thermosynechococcaceae and thermostichaceae: insights into codon usage bias.

Members of the families Thermosynechococcaceae and Thermostichaceae are well-known unicellular thermophilic cyanobacteria and a non-thermophilic genus was newly classified into the former. Analysis of the codon usage bias (CUB) of cyanobacterial species inhabiting different thermal and non-thermal niches will benefit the understanding of their genetic and evolutionary characteristics. Herein, the CUB and codon context patterns of protein-coding genes were systematically analyzed and compared between members of the two families.

Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids.

The microbial composition of host-associated microbiomes is influenced by co-evolutionary interactions, host genetics, domestication, and the environment. This study investigates the contribution of environmental microbiota from freshwater bodies to the gastrointestinal microbiomes of wild khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus, n = 21) and compares them with those of captive khulans (n = 12) and other equids-Przewalski's horse (n = 82) and domestic horse (n = 26). Using PacBio technology and the LotuS pipeline for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyze microbial diversity and conduct differential abundance, alpha, and beta diversity analyses.

Association of poultry vaccination with interspecies transmission and molecular evolution of H5 subtype avian influenza virus.

The effectiveness of poultry vaccination in preventing the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIVs) has been debated, and its impact on wild birds remains uncertain. Here, we reconstruct the movements of H5 subtype AIV lineages among vaccinated poultry, unvaccinated poultry, and wild birds, worldwide, from 1996 to 2023. We find that there is a time lag in viral transmission among different host populations and that movements from wild birds to unvaccinated poultry were more frequent than those from wild birds to vaccinated poultry.

Evolutionary diversification and succession of soil huge phages in glacier foreland.

Background: Huge phages (genome size ≥ 200 kb) have been detected in diverse habitats worldwide, infecting a variety of prokaryotes. However, their evolution and adaptation strategy in soils remain poorly understood due to the scarcity of soil-derived genomes.

Results: Here, we conduct a size-fractioned (< 0.

YHSeqY3000 panel captures all founding lineages in the Chinese paternal genomic diversity database.

Background: The advancements in second-/third-generation sequencing technologies, alongside computational innovations, have significantly enhanced our understanding of the genomic structure of Y-chromosomes and their unique phylogenetic characteristics. These researches, despite the challenges posed by the lack of population-scale genomic databases, have the potential to revolutionize our approach to high-resolution, population-specific Y-chromosome panels and databases for anthropological and forensic applications.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop the highest-resolution Y-targeted sequencing panel, utilizing time-stamped, core phylogenetic informative mutations identified from high-coverage sequences in the YanHuang cohort.

Genome-wide identification of MGT gene family in soybean (Glycine max) and their expression analyses under magnesium stress conditions.

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is essential for plant growth and development and plays critical roles in physiological and biochemical processes. Mg deficiency adversely affects growth of plants by limiting shoot and root development, disturbing the structure and membranes of the grana, reducing photosynthesis efficiency, and lowering net CO assimilation. The MGT (Magnesium transporter) family is responsible for the absorption and transportation of magnesium in plants.

Punctuational evolution is pervasive in distal site metastatic colonization.

The evolution of metastasis, the spread of cancer to distal sites within the body, represents a lethal stage of cancer progression. Yet, the evolutionary dynamics that shape the emergence of metastatic disease remain unresolved. Here, using single-cell lineage tracing data in combination with phylogenetic statistical methods, we show that the evolutionary trajectory of metastatic disease is littered with bursts of rapid molecular change as new cellular subpopulations appear, a pattern known as punctuational evolution.

Genomic insights support the taxonomic differentiation of Orla-Jensen 1919 (Approved Lists 1980) and Andrewes and Horder 1906 (Approved Lists 1980) as individual species.

is widely used as a starter culture in the production of cheese, yoghurt and various cultured dairy products, which holds considerable significance in both research and practical applications within the food industry. Throughout history, the taxonomy of has undergone several adjustments and revisions. In 1984, based on the result of DNA-DNA hybridization, was reclassified as subsp.

New insights into interspecies relationships, chromosomal evolution, and hybrid identification in the Lycoris Herb.

Background: Frequent interspecific hybridization, unclear genetic backgrounds, and ambiguous evolutionary relationships within the genus Lycoris pose significant challenges to the identification and classification of hybrids, thereby impacting the application and development of Lycoris. This study utilizes karyotype structure, genome size, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technology to explore the chromosomal evolution and hybrid identification of Lycoris employing three approaches at the cytogenetic level.

Results: The findings indicate that species with a smaller basic chromosome number exhibit less asymmetry than those with a larger basic chromosome number, suggesting that species with different basic chromosome numbers may have followed different evolutionary pathways.

Comprehensive analysis of 111 Pleuronectiformes mitochondrial genomes: insights into structure, conservation, variation and evolution.

Background: Pleuronectiformes, also known as flatfish, are important model and economic animals. However, a comprehensive genome survey of their important organelles, mitochondria, has been limited. Therefore, we aim to analyze the genomic structure, codon preference, nucleotide diversity, selective pressure and repeat sequences, as well as reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship using the mitochondrial genomes of 111 flatfish species.

Evolutionary analysis of the DHHCs in Saccharinae.

The DHHC domain genes are crucial for protein lipid modification, a key post-translational modification influencing membrane targeting, subcellular trafficking, and protein function. Despite their significance, the DHHC gene family in Saccharinae remains understudied. Here, we identified 32 (110 alleles), 28, 53, and 48 DHHC genes in Saccharum spontaneum Np-X, Erianthus rufipilus, Miscanthus sinensis, and Miscanthus lutarioriparius, respectively.