2010/01/14 by John H. Werren, Stephen Richards, Christopher A. Desjardins +97 · 4 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences #Insect-Plant Interactions and Control #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
paper · doi:10.1126/science.1178028
openalex publication_date 2010/01/14 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
We report here genome sequences and comparative analyses of three closely related parasitoid wasps: Nasonia vitripennis, N. giraulti, and N. longicornis. Parasitoids are important regulators of arthropod populations, including major agricultural pests and disease vectors, and Nasonia is an emerging genetic model, particularly for evolutionary and developmental genetics. Key findings include the identification of a functional DNA methylation tool kit; hymenopteran-specific genes including diverse venoms; lateral gene transfers among Pox viruses, Wolbachia, and Nasonia; and the rapid evolution of genes involved in nuclear-mitochondrial interactions that are implicated in speciation. Newly developed genome resources advance Nasonia for genetic research, accelerate mapping and cloning of quantitative trait loci, and will ultimately provide tools and knowledge for further increasing the utility of parasitoids as pest insect-control agents.