Zootermopsis nevadensis

Zootermopsis nevadensis is a species of eusocial termite (Isoptera) in the family Termopsidae, a group known as the dampwood termites. It is a hemimetabolous organism. Despite eusociality has evolved independently from different insect orders, directed by different selection pressures, termites and other eusocial insects from Hymenoptera have evolved similar on the physiological and social fields. Z. nevadensis is subdivided into two subspecies, Z. n. nevadensis and Z. n. nuttingi. The genome of Zootermopsis nevadensis nuttingi has been sequenced. The main objective of sequencing Zootermopsis nevadensis genome was to find the molecular traces of eusociality. The authors compared the whole sequenced and assembled genome and 25 transcriptomes from different development states and castes with the already sequenced genomes of eusocial Hymenoptera and ants. This termite only has two opsin genes copies, the smallest number of opsin genes among the insects, as a result of living in the dark their whole lives. Further, it was tested linage specific gene families to study its expansion or contraction. nine families exhibit expansion in Z. Nevandensis, the majority of them has differential development, castes o gender expression. Four gene families are not expanded but shows the same differential expression among castes. The proteins coded on this genes probably has an important role on mating biology, reproduction or communication.