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DTSTAMP:20260426T105235Z
SUMMARY:Silwood Seminar Series – Isopod genomics and evolution
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:\nDetermining the causes and consequences of evolution
 ary and environmental change is central to understanding the diversity of 
 life. Ecological transitions – evolutionary shifts between ecosystems or
  ecological niches – have played a key role in shaping Earth’s biodive
 rsity. The crustacean order Isopoda provide an excellent study system for 
 ecological transition\, with species occupying nearly every environment on
  Earth. These include terrestrial woodlice\, littoral (shoreline) sea-slat
 ers\, freshwater pond-lice and diverse marine species\, from the giant dee
 p-sea isopod to the notorious ‘tongue-biter’ fish parasite. Crucially\
 , throughout their evolutionary history\, isopods have undergone multiple 
 independent transitions (and reversals) among marine\, freshwater\, terres
 trial and host-associated habitats\, as well as shifts in feeding ecology.
  Studying isopod genomes therefore offers a unique opportunity to uncover 
 the genomic basis of ecological adaptation across many different ecosystem
 s. However\, until recently\, this opportunity has remained out of reach. 
 Like many other crustaceans\, generating chromosome-level isopod genomes h
 as proven challenging\, with factors such as large genome size\, contamina
 tion\, and sequencing complexities complicating efforts. The Darwin Tree o
 f Life project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute has recently overcome thes
 e obstacles\, producing the first high-quality chromosomally assembled iso
 pod reference genomes. These mainly include species from isopod suborders 
 Cymothooidea (fish parasites and scavengers) and Asellota (freshwater pond
 -lice and marine isopods)\, suggesting there might be a taxonomic bias in 
 sequencing success. Initial analyses reveal dynamic genome evolution acros
 s Isopoda – with considerable variation in genome size\, chromosome numb
 er and repeat content between closely related species\, as well as extensi
 ve genome rearrangement.
URL:https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/204901/silwood-seminar-series-isopod-
 genomics-and-evolution/
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260219T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260219T140000
LOCATION:Oak/Birch lecture theatre\, Hamilton Building\, Silwood Park Campu
 s\, Imperial College London\, Berkshire\, SL5 7PY\, United Kingdom
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