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Genomic signatures of recent convergent transitions to social life in spiders

Author

Listed:
  • Chao Tong

    (University of Pennsylvania
    Texas Tech University)

  • Leticia Avilés

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Linda S. Rayor

    (Cornell University)

  • Alexander S. Mikheyev

    (Australian National University)

  • Timothy A. Linksvayer

    (University of Pennsylvania
    Texas Tech University)

Abstract

The transition from solitary to social life is a major phenotypic innovation, but its genetic underpinnings are largely unknown. To identify genomic changes associated with this transition, we compare the genomes of 22 spider species representing eight recent and independent origins of sociality. Hundreds of genes tend to experience shifts in selection during the repeated transition to social life. These genes are associated with several key functions, such as neurogenesis, behavior, and metabolism, and include genes that previously have been implicated in animal social behavior and human behavioral disorders. In addition, social species have elevated genome-wide rates of molecular evolution associated with relaxed selection caused by reduced effective population size. Altogether, our study provides unprecedented insights into the genomic signatures of social evolution and the specific genetic changes that repeatedly underpin the evolution of sociality. Our study also highlights the heretofore unappreciated potential of transcriptomics using ethanol-preserved specimens for comparative genomics and phylotranscriptomics.

Suggested Citation

  • Chao Tong & Leticia Avilés & Linda S. Rayor & Alexander S. Mikheyev & Timothy A. Linksvayer, 2022. "Genomic signatures of recent convergent transitions to social life in spiders," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34446-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34446-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kristian W. Sanggaard & Jesper S. Bechsgaard & Xiaodong Fang & Jinjie Duan & Thomas F. Dyrlund & Vikas Gupta & Xuanting Jiang & Ling Cheng & Dingding Fan & Yue Feng & Lijuan Han & Zhiyong Huang & Zong, 2014. "Spider genomes provide insight into composition and evolution of venom and silk," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, September.
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    3. Michael R. Warner & Lijun Qiu & Michael J. Holmes & Alexander S. Mikheyev & Timothy A. Linksvayer, 2019. "Convergent eusocial evolution is based on a shared reproductive groundplan plus lineage-specific plastic genes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Sarah D. Kocher & Ricardo Mallarino & Benjamin E. R. Rubin & Douglas W. Yu & Hopi E. Hoekstra & Naomi E. Pierce, 2018. "The genetic basis of a social polymorphism in halictid bees," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
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