Widespread Gene Expression Divergence in Butterfly Sensory Tissues Plays a Fundamental Role During Reproductive Isolation and Speciation.

ABSTRACT: Neotropical Heliconius butterflies are well known for their intricate behaviors and multiple instances of incipient speciation. Chemosensing plays a fundamental role in the life history of these groups of butterflies and in the establishment of reproductive isolation. However, chemical communication involves synergistic sensory and accessory functions, and it remains challenging to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying behavioral differences. Here, we examine the gene expression profiles and genomic divergence of three sensory tissues (antennae, legs, and mouthparts) between sexes (females and males) and life stages (different adult stages) in two hybridizing butterflies, Heliconius melpomene and Heliconius cydno. By integrating comparative transcriptomic and population genomic a

SUBMITTER: Wu N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9641979 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature