Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
10:15
Light Sheet-based Fluorescence Microscopy of Living or Fixed and Stained Tribolium castaneum Embryos
Published on: April 28, 2017
10.9K
Millipede genomes reveal unique adaptations during myriapod evolution
Zhe Qu1, Wenyan Nong1, Wai Lok So1
1School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Plos Biology
|September 29, 2020
Summary
Millipede genomes reveal unique adaptations and gene regulation not seen in other arthropods. These findings enhance our understanding of arthropod evolution and genomics.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Zoology
Background:
- Myriapoda (millipedes and centipedes) represent a poorly understood arthropod lineage.
- Millipedes exhibit unique body plans and environmental adaptations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To sequence and analyze the chromosomal-level genomes of two millipede species.
- To identify unique genomic features, gene regulation patterns, and defense systems in millipedes.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome sequencing and assembly of Helicorthomorpha holstii and Trigoniulus corallinus.
- Comparative genomic analyses, including macro-synteny.
- Identification of gene families related to defense mechanisms and gene regulation.
Main Results:
- Genome sizes vary, influenced by repeat content and intron size.
- Unique Hox and ParaHox gene clusters identified, with a myriapod-specific rearrangement.
- Duplicated Argonaute (AGO) proteins found, with one pseudogenized in millipedes.
- Evidence of microRNA arm switching for differential gene regulation.
- Genes associated with the unique ozadene defensive gland identified.
Conclusions:
- Millipede genomes harbor unique adaptations and regulatory mechanisms distinct from other arthropods.
- High-quality genomes provide insights into conserved and lineage-specific features of Myriapoda.
- Understanding millipede and centipede genomes is crucial for reconstructing myriapod ancestry and advancing arthropod evolutionary genomics.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Diversity of Protists I
680
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
680
02:54Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
6.7K
Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
6.7K
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
303
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
303
01:24Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
308
The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
308
01:29Microbial Morphologies
1.6K
Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
1.6K
01:29Modern Molecular Taxonomy
436
Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
436