Chromosomes, as carriers of genes, are the fundamental units of heredity, with the eukaryotic genome divided into multiple chromosomes. Each species typically has a consistent number of chromosomes within its lineage. Ants, however, display remarkable diversity in chromosome numbers, and previous studies have shown that this variation may correlate with ant diversity. As ants evolved, various karyotypes emerged, primarily through chromosomal fissions, leading to an increase in chromosome number and a decrease in chromosome size. In this study, we investigate chromosome evolution in ants from a phylogenetic perspective using ancestral reconstruction. Our analysis indicates that the most recent common ancestor of ants had an ancestral haploid chromosome number of eleven, likely composed of biarmed chromosomes. The bimodal distribution of karyotypes and the trend toward increased chromosome numbers align with previous assumptions. Although both dysploidy and ploidy changes have been indicated as likely mechanisms of chromosome number evolution. Descending dysploidy occurs consistently throughout the phylogeny, while changes in ploidy are believed to occur occasionally within the subfamilies during genus diversification. We propose, based on our results and previous evidence (e.g., genome size in ants), that both fusions and fissions contribute equally to karyotype changes in Formicidae. Additionally, changes in ploidy should not be fully ignored, as they can occur across specific lineages.

Danon Clemes Cardoso

Maykon Passos Cristiano

Genome

GENOME 是一份月刊，成立于 1959 年，发表原创研究文章、评论、小型评论、当前观点和评论。感兴趣的领域包括一般遗传学和基因组学、细胞遗传学、分子和进化遗传学、发育遗传学、种群遗传学、系统基因组学、分子鉴定，以及生态、比较和功能基因组学等新兴领域。

Genome is a monthly journal established in 1959, publishing original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, current perspectives, and commentaries. The journal covers a wide range of topics including general genetics and genomics, cytogenetics, molecular and evolutionary genetics, developmental genetics, population genetics, systems genomics, molecular identification, as well as emerging fields such as ecological, comparative, and functional genomics.

《Genome》是一本成立于1959年的月刊，主要发表原创研究文章、评论、小型评论、当前观点和综述。期刊关注的领域包括一般遗传学和基因组学、细胞遗传学、分子与进化遗传学、发育遗传学、种群遗传学、系统基因组学、分子鉴定，以及生态、比较和功能基因组学等新兴领域。

Category	Quartile
生物学	3
生物学, 生物工程与应用微生物	3
生物学, 遗传学	3

A phylogenetic perspective of chromosome evolution in Formicidae

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
GENETICS & HEREDITY	3