Tim Fallon, PhD

Tim Fallon, PhD

Apr 25, 2017

Group 6 Copy 1,249
4

First poster presented on firefly genome progress

Dear firefly genome supporters,

Hello from Taiwan!  Where your author is currently attending the International Firefly Symposium 2017 (http://www.ifs2017taipei.org), in Taipei, Taiwan.  Team Firefly is at IFS2017 in order to present the ongoing progress on the Photinus pyralis firefly genome to our international scientific colleagues. This poster represents the first step of the scientific peer review process, where we actively seek criticism from our colleagues!  This peer review process ensures that we end up with the best possible firefly genome. Eventually this process will lead to submission of an article to a scientific journal, with the P.pyralis genome becoming a part of the official scientific record, but only if it passes muster from our colleagues.  We have a lot more work to do before the genome manuscript is ready for submission to a scientific journal, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy our first poster on the firefly genome.  

Please don't hesitate to leave any comments or questions below! We'd love to hear from you and answer your questions.  You can also join the conversation on our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/firef...) page and Twitter (https://twitter.com/fireflygen...)

Also, for our supporters in the United States, keep an eye out in the evening! Fireflies are starting to come out throughout much of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic United States.  Checkout the Firefly Watch project (https://legacy.mos.org/firefly...) to see what fireflies might be currently coming out in your neck of the woods!

4 comments

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  • Denny Luan
    Denny Luan
    I didn't know there was an international firefly symposium, but Taiwan seems like a great place to have it! Hope you guys get a chance to eat some good food while you're there. If you need any suggestions, let me know :)
    Apr 26, 2017
  • Tim Fallon, PhD
    Tim Fallon, PhDResearcher
    More food than we can handle!! It's been a real treat.
    Apr 27, 2017
  • Joe Doggett
    Joe DoggettBacker
    Two comments. First, the poster (and site) are good -- user friendly, easy to comprehend and slick. Congratulations. Second, did you ever, in your wildest dreams, imagine that there even EXISTED a firefly convention? And that you would attend? In Taipei? What a world... Hope you are well, and my best, please, to your folks. Has the genome company that your dad took interest in made any progress? Is he still an active partner?
    Apr 26, 2017
  • Tim Fallon, PhD
    Tim Fallon, PhDResearcher
    Hi Joe, no I didn't expect I'd be attending the firefly symposium, but I'm very glad that I did! Taiwan has the "firefly fever" and our hosts have been extremely gracious to us at every stage. It has been a very special experience, and there is still one more day! Re Genome company: Not sure what you mean? Maybe we could talk more offline.
    Apr 27, 2017
  • Joshua Guerriero
    Joshua GuerrieroBacker
    Poster looks great. Keep up the good work.
    Apr 25, 2017
  • Tim Fallon, PhD
    Tim Fallon, PhDResearcher
    Thanks very much Joshua!
    Apr 27, 2017
  • Misha Koksharov
    Misha KoksharovBacker
    So Photinus does have a second luciferase gene? Is it from the same clade as Luc2 in Luciola/Photuris (http://forumbgz.ru/user/upload/file33419.gif) or some other?
    Apr 25, 2017
  • Tim Fallon, PhD
    Tim Fallon, PhDResearcher
    Hi Misha, Yes! The Ppyr Luc2 is orthologous to the previously described Luc2 in Luciola & Photuris.
    Apr 25, 2017
  • Misha Koksharov
    Misha KoksharovBacker
    Can you share the sequence to include in phylogenetic trees? Was it submitted to GenBank? I guess Yuichi Oba & John Day will be interested to hear that it actually exists in Photinus (maybe then in Lampyrids too). Have you looked at its enzymatic properties?
    Apr 25, 2017
  • Tim Fallon, PhD
    Tim Fallon, PhDResearcher
    Hi Misha, at this stage, the gene models are still in flux, so sequence data will be released alongside the manuscript when they are more polished.
    Apr 26, 2017
  • Misha Koksharov
    Misha KoksharovBacker
    I presume it can be just amplified from the gDNA with appropriate primers, subcloned and sequenced (in case of people interested more in luciferases rather than the whole genome). E. g., I've amplified Lampyris noctiluca luc (cDNA, gDNA) some time ago (GenBank: KU756583.1).
    Apr 26, 2017

About This Project

Fireflies! These silent fireworks on warm summer nights fill us with wonder. But so much about these fascinating critters remains shrouded in mystery. Our team of biologists has joined forces to sequence the genome of the Big Dipper Firefly, Photinus pyralis. This project has the potential to foster important advances in bioscience and medicine, will illuminate how a complex trait like light production evolves, and will help guide future efforts to conserve disappearing firefly populations.

Blast off!

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