More ant genomes than you can shake a stick at
There are three ant genome sequences in the latest PNAS: the red harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus, the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile, and the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. They've all got lots of odorant receptors and are similar to previously sequenced hymenopteran genomes from the bee Apis mellifera and the wasp Nasonia vitripennis. These ants also have the distinction of being from a single family Formicidae, which might make for interesting comparative genomics for baraminology and diversification studies. There's no direct comparisons of the three ant genomes in PNAS now, but it shouldn't take long for some researcher(s) to remedy that. The paper on the invasive Argentine ant is open access, the rest are available exclusively to subscribers.
Gadagkar. 2011. The birth of ant genomics. PNAS 108:5477-5478.
Smith et al. 2011. Draft genome of the red harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus. PNAS 108:5667-5672.
Smith et al. 2011. Draft genome of the globally widespread and invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). PNAS 108:5673-5678.
Wurm et al. 2011. The genome of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. PNAS 108:5679-5684.
Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.
Gadagkar. 2011. The birth of ant genomics. PNAS 108:5477-5478.
Smith et al. 2011. Draft genome of the red harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus. PNAS 108:5667-5672.
Smith et al. 2011. Draft genome of the globally widespread and invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). PNAS 108:5673-5678.
Wurm et al. 2011. The genome of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. PNAS 108:5679-5684.
Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.