Genome Assembly of Flame Carpet Moth Reveals Insight into Genetics

Strategic Insights -

Scientists at the Natural History Museum have achieved a milestone in genome assembly by successfully mapping the genetic code of the Flame Carpet moth, Xanthorhoe designata. This breakthrough, made possible through the Darwin Tree of Life project, has shed light on the intricacies of the moth's genome and has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of eukaryotic species in Britain and Ireland. The assembly, which spanned over 351 megabases, identified 12,291 protein-coding genes, providing valuable insights into the moth's biology and evolution.

Key Takeaways:

  • The genome assembly of the Flame Carpet moth was achieved through the Darwin Tree of Life project, which aims to produce reference genomes for eukaryotic species in Britain and Ireland.
  • The assembly consists of 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the W and Z sex chromosomes, and has a scaffolded sequence of 99.45%.
  • The mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 17.55 kilobases in length.
  • Gene annotation using Ensembl identified 12,291 protein-coding genes.
  • The assembly is part of a larger effort to understand the genetics of eukaryotic species and has the potential to shed light on the biology and evolution of the Flame Carpet moth.

Statistics:

  • The genome sequence of the Flame Carpet moth has a total length of 351.47 megabases.
  • 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules were identified in the assembly.
  • 99.45% of the assembly is scaffolded into these chromosomal pseudomolecules.
  • The mitochondrial genome is 17.55 kilobases in length.
  • 12,291 protein-coding genes were identified through gene annotation using Ensembl.

Sources:

  • The genome sequence of the Flame Carpet moth, Xanthorhoe designata (Hufnagel, 1767) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Wellcome Open Research, 2025;10:110.
  • NewsRx. Reports from Natural History Museum Advance Knowledge in Science and Technology [The genome sequence of the Flame Carpet moth, Xanthorhoe designata (Hufnagel, 1767) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)]. Science Letter. October 31, 2025; p 1842.