Genome assembly of 3 Amazonian Morpho butterfly species reveals Z-chromosome rearrangements between closely related species living in sympatry.

ABSTRACT: The genomic processes enabling speciation and species coexistence in sympatry are still largely unknown. Here we describe the whole-genome sequencing and assembly of 3 closely related species from the butterfly genus Morpho: Morpho achilles (Linnaeus, 1758), Morpho helenor (Cramer, 1776), and Morpho deidamia (Höbner, 1819). These large blue butterflies are emblematic species of the Amazonian rainforest. They live in sympatry in a wide range of their geographical distribution and display parallel diversification of dorsal wing color pattern, suggesting local mimicry. By sequencing, assembling, and annotating their genomes, we aim at uncovering prezygotic barriers preventing gene flow between these sympatric species. We found a genome size of  480 Mb for the 3 species and a chromosomal numbe

SUBMITTER: Bastide H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10202424 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature