Open AccessComparative genomics of 10 new Caenorhabditis species
Author(s) -
Stevens Lewis,
Félix MarieAnne,
Beltran Toni,
Braendle Christian,
Caurcel Carlos,
Fausett Sarah,
Fitch David,
Frézal Lise,
Gosse Charlie,
Kaur Taniya,
Kiontke Karin,
Newton Matthew D.,
Noble Luke M.,
Richaud Aurélien,
Rockman Matthew V.,
Sudhaus Walter,
Blaxter Mark
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
evolution letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2056-3744
DOI - 10.1002/evl3.110
Subject(s) - biology , caenorhabditis , caenorhabditis elegans , genome , evolutionary biology , phylogenetic tree , genomics , context (archaeology) , phylogenetics , model organism , phylogenomics , genus , genetics , gene , clade , zoology , paleontology
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been central to the understanding of metazoan biology. However, C. elegans is but one species among millions and the significance of this important model organism will only be fully revealed if it is placed in a rich evolutionary context. Global sampling efforts have led to the discovery of over 50 putative species from the genus Caenorhabditis , many of which await formal species description. Here, we present species descriptions for 10 new Caenorhabditis species. We also present draft genome sequences for nine of these new species, along with a transcriptome assembly for one. We exploit these whole‐genome data to reconstruct the Caenorhabditis phylogeny and use this phylogenetic tree to dissect the evolution of morphology in the genus. We reveal extensive variation in genome size and investigate the molecular processes that underlie this variation. We show unexpected complexity in the evolutionary history of key developmental pathway genes. These new species and the associated genomic resources will be essential in our attempts to understand the evolutionary origins of the C. elegans model.