Researchers Sequence Genomes of 179 Fruit Fly Species, Advancing Evolutionary Studies
New genomic data fills significant gaps in the fruit fly family tree, enabling deeper insights into evolutionary processes.
- Scientists used a hybrid sequencing approach to produce high-quality, low-cost genomes from 179 fruit fly species.
- The study includes genomes from wild-caught flies, preserved museum specimens, and lab-reared strains.
- A refined phylogenetic tree for 360 species in the Drosophilidae family was created using the new data.
- Nearly 300 fruit fly genomes were aligned as an open-source tool for future comparative genomics research.
- This research demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale genome sequencing for small organisms even on modest budgets.
ScienceDaily 