Thermobia domestica genome sequencing

Of the various flying animals on the earth, insects have evolved a unique flight organ. Despite over two centuries' debate, the evolutionary origin of the insect wing is still an enigma. We try to approach this issue using evo-devo methods. One way to identify the structure from which insect wings first evolved is to explore the function of "wing" genes in ancestral wingless species. We chose the firebrat, Thermobia domestica, as a model. T. domestica belongs to Thysanura, phylogenetically the closest extant relative of winged insects, making it ideal for elucidating wing origin.