Progress on genome sequencing of Dipteran insects

Abstract

Diptera is among the most diverse holometabolan insect orders and was the earliest order to have a genome fully sequenced. The genomes of 110 fly species have been sequenced and published and many hundreds of population- level genomes have been obtained in the model organisms Drosophila melanogaster and Anopheles gambiae. Comparative genomics elucidate many aspects of the Dipteran biology, thereby providing insights for on the variability in genome structure, genetic mechanisms, and rates and patterns of evolution in genes, species, and populations. Despite the availability of genomic resources in Diptera, there is still a significant lack of information on many other insects. The sequencing of the genomes in Dipteran insects would be of great value to exhibit multiple origins of key fly behaviors such as blood feeding, parasitism, pollination, and mycophagy. In this review, we briefly summarize the distribution and characteristics of Dipteran genomes, introduce the progress of functional genes such as Cytochrome P450, immunity, sex determination and differentiation related genes in Dipteran genome, and highlight the significant findings generated by comparative genomics approach among Dipteran species. This paper provides the guidelines and references for choosing additional taxa for genome sequencing studies in the rapidly developing genome omics era, and offers a fundamental basis for genome-based pest control and management.