D. R. Laetsch

Inferring inter-chromosomal rearrangements and ancestral linkage groups from synteny

The paper implements and evaluates algorithms for inferring ancestral linkage groups and inter-chromosomal rearrangements using synteny, showing their effectiveness and limitations with simulations and nematode genome data.

Chromosomal inversions and the demography of speciation in Drosophila montana and Drosophila flavomontana

This study examines chromosomal inversions in Drosophila montana and D. flavomontana, finding that inversions were present in the common ancestor and reduced gene flow between species, potentially aiding speciation.

Chromosome fissions and fusions act as barriers to gene flow between Brenthis fritillary butterflies

This study shows chromosome fissions and fusions reduce gene flow between sympatric Brenthis fritillary butterflies by lowering effective migration rates in rearranged genomic regions.

Demographically explicit scans for barriers to gene flow using gIMble

This paper introduces gIMble, a method to identify genomic barriers to gene flow by integrating demographic and selection models, applied to Heliconius butterfly data to reveal both large-effect and polygenic barriers.

Experimental introgression in Drosophila: asymmetric postzygotic isolation associated with chromosomal inversions and an incompatibility locus on the X chromosome

This study investigates genetic incompatibilities in Drosophila species by analyzing introgression patterns and finds reduced introgression on the X chromosome in reciprocal backcrosses.

The genome sequence of the scarce swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius

This paper presents a chromosome-level genome assembly for the scarce swallowtail butterfly and reports a negative correlation between chromosome length and heterozygosity at fourfold-degenerate sites.

The evolution of interdependence in a four-way mealybug symbiosis

This paper studies the genomic and metabolic interdependence of two recently acquired gammaproteobacterial endosymbionts in mealybugs, showing their rapid adaptation to an intracellular lifestyle.

The Pleistocene species pump past its prime: evidence from European butterfly sister species

The paper estimates divergence times for European butterfly sister species using genome-wide transcriptome data, finding most diverged before the Pleistocene and showing contact zones are not limited to early speciation stages.

Males that silence their father's genes: genomic imprinting of a complete haploid genome

The paper analyzes parent-of-origin gene expression in mealybugs, showing paternal genome activity in somatic and reproductive tissues, and links biparental expression to elevated molecular evolution.

The determinants of genetic diversity in butterflies - Lewontin's paradox revisited

This study examines genetic diversity in European butterflies and finds it correlates with body size and genetic map length, not population size or fecundity.

Comparative Genomics Of Apomictic Root-Knot Nematodes: Hybridization, Ploidy, And Dynamic Genome Change

This study sequenced 19 genomes of Root-Knot Nematodes to investigate hybridization, ploidy, and genome dynamics in the Meloidogyne incognita group.