Ranz JM, González PM, Su RN, Bedford SJ, Abreu-Goodger C, Markow T.

Proc Biol Sci. 2022 Jan 26;289(1967):20212183. doi:10.1098/rspb.2021.2183

Multiscale analysis of the randomization limits of the chromosomal gene organization between Lepidoptera and Diptera.

Uses 5 to 7000 1-to-1 orthologues to study synteny in insects that speciated ~100 My ago. Uses a definition of microsynteny with no constrains on orientation, where transposition does not interrupt synteny, and where triplets of orthologues do not need to be in the same order. A repurposed tissue-specificity index identifies ancestral relationships between chromosomes. Searched for conserved clusters (Hox etc.) by allowing a distance of 250 kbp between genes, regardless the number of interveining genes. Found that most clusters still exist, but rearranged.