Gene analysis: Successful decoding of firefly genome – NIBB and MIT joint
~ Evolution of firefly light gene clearly ~
Associate professor Shigenobu Shigenobu of the Basic Biology Laboratory and a research group of Chubu University decipher the genome of “Heike firefly”.
In collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, they decoded the genome of the American firefly “Photinus · Pilaris”.
By comparing the genome , it became clear for the first time the details of its history, how fireflies got the ability to shine.
This research turned out, ‘How did fireflies acquire the luciferase gene necessary for luminescence in the process of evolution?’ ‘.
This result is published in eLife magazine on October 16, 2018.
Basic Biology Laboratory