Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

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...

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).

Pollination and Flower Structure

Pollination and Flower Structure

Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

An Equatorial Hemispheric Barrier Shapes the Diversification of Migratory Belenois Butterflies.

Molecular ecology·2026

Same author

Resource Availability Modulates Gene Expression Across Life Stages in a Migratory Butterfly.

Molecular ecology·2026

Same author

A north-south hemispheric migratory divide in the butterfly Vanessa cardui.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Genomics of Neotropical biodiversity indicators: Two butterfly radiations with rampant chromosomal rearrangements and hybridization.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Same author

Genome analyses suggest recent speciation and postglacial isolation in the Norwegian lemming.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Same author

Trans-Atlantic Dispersal and Introgression Explain Holarctic Disjunct Distributions in Vanessa Butterflies.

Molecular ecology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2025

In situ Protocol for Butterfly Pupal Wings Using Riboprobes

In situ Protocol for Butterfly Pupal Wings Using Riboprobes

Published on: May 28, 2007

Base Composition, Codon Usage, and Patterns of Gene Sequence Evolution in Butterflies.

Karin Näsvall¹, Jesper Boman¹, Venkat Talla¹

¹Evolutionary Biology Program, Department of Ecology and Genetics (IEG), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Genome Biology and Evolution

|August 11, 2023

Summary

Evolutionary forces like mutation bias and GC-biased gene conversion (gBGC) shape gene sequences in Lepidoptera. Selection acts on codon usage, influencing substitution patterns alongside mutation and gBGC.

Keywords:

Leptidea GC-biased gene conversion codon usage bias comparative genomics substitution rates tRNA genes

More Related Videos

Deploying Community Scientists to Conduct Nondestructive Genetic Sampling of Rare Butterfly Populations

Deploying Community Scientists to Conduct Nondestructive Genetic Sampling of Rare Butterfly Populations

Published on: October 28, 2022

Mass-Rearing and Molecular Studies in Tortricidae Pest Insects

Mass-Rearing and Molecular Studies in Tortricidae Pest Insects

Published on: March 25, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2025

In situ Protocol for Butterfly Pupal Wings Using Riboprobes

In situ Protocol for Butterfly Pupal Wings Using Riboprobes

Published on: May 28, 2007

Deploying Community Scientists to Conduct Nondestructive Genetic Sampling of Rare Butterfly Populations

Deploying Community Scientists to Conduct Nondestructive Genetic Sampling of Rare Butterfly Populations

Published on: October 28, 2022

Mass-Rearing and Molecular Studies in Tortricidae Pest Insects

Mass-Rearing and Molecular Studies in Tortricidae Pest Insects

Published on: March 25, 2022

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Genomics
Molecular Evolution

Background:

Gene sequence evolution is shaped by natural selection and neutral forces.
Mutation bias, codon usage bias, and GC-biased gene conversion (gBGC) are key evolutionary forces.
Understanding these forces is crucial for quantifying natural selection's strength and direction.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the interplay between base composition, codon usage bias, and gene sequence evolution in Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).
To quantify the impact of mutation bias, gBGC, and selection on codon usage in shaping substitution patterns.
To analyze these evolutionary dynamics in the species Leptidea sinapis.

Main Methods:

Comparative genomics approach across various Lepidoptera species.
In-depth analysis of substitution patterns and base composition in Leptidea sinapis.
Examination of codon usage bias and GC-content at the third codon position.
Analysis of transfer RNA (tRNA) gene populations.

Main Results:

A significant G/C to A/T substitution bias was observed at the third codon position in Lepidoptera, with variations across lineages.
This substitution bias was weaker than expected, indicating the influence of gBGC.
A/T-ending codons were overrepresented, but codon usage bias correlated positively with GC-content at the third codon position.
The tRNA gene population in L. sinapis exhibited higher GC-content and less A/T-ending codon overrepresentation compared to general coding sequences.
An inverse relationship between synonymous substitutions and codon usage bias suggests selection on synonymous sites.

Conclusions:

Gene sequence evolution in Lepidoptera results from a complex interaction between G/C -> A/T mutation bias and counteracting fixation biases.
Purifying selection, gBGC, and selection on codon usage are key factors influencing evolutionary rates.
Evidence suggests selection acts on synonymous sites, contributing to observed codon usage patterns.