International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 241-251 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 244 Next-generation sequencing has also facilitated the rapid domestication of new plant species and the efficient identification and capture of novel genetic variation from related species. For instance, re-sequencing of domesticated genotypes can identify regions of low diversity associated with domestication, and whole-genome shotgun sequencing of related wild species can provide species-specific data. These advancements have been applied to various crops, including rice, sugarcane, and Eucalypts, demonstrating the broad applicability of NGS in crop improvement and domestication studies (Henry, 2012). Figure 2 Distribution of genomic and epigenomic features of the fig genome (Adopted from Usai et al., 2019) Image caption: (a) The 13 pseudomolecules. The black label on each pseudomolecule represents the putative centromeric region. Pseudomolecules are divided into 1 Mbp intervals. (b) Heterozygosity. (c) Histogram representing gene density. (d) Histogram representing TEs density. (e) Heat map representing 4mC modification levels. (f) Heat map representing 6mA modification levels (Adopted from Usai et al., 2019) 4.2 Key genomic discoveries that have impacted understanding of fig biology Several key genomic discoveries have significantly enhanced our understanding of fig biology. The high-quality reference genome of figs has revealed important epigenetic patterns, including high levels of methylation in both genes and transposable elements. This discovery underscores the prevalence of methylated over non-methylated genes in figs and has led to the identification of a species-specific motif, ANHGA, which is prevalent in both genes and transposable elements. Additionally, the identification of 13 putative centromeric regions in the fig genome provides valuable insights into the structural organization of the fig genome (Usai et al., 2019). Furthermore, population genomics approaches have been applied to study the intraspecies genomic divergence of fig-associated species, such as fig wasps. These studies have revealed how geographic barriers and adaptation influence genetic divergence at the population level, thereby increasing our knowledge of potential speciation in non-model organisms. For example, the genetic divergence between populations of fig wasps on Hainan Island and the mainland has been attributed to both geographic isolation and environmental adaptation, highlighting the complex interplay of factors driving genetic diversity in fig-associated species (Xu et al., 2021).
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