Precisely determining a Phormia regina maggot age using developmental mRNA signatures

To identify candidate genes, we utilized a single male Phormia regina for PacBio HiFi reads and Hi-C sequencing of a male Phormia regina fly for genome assembly. Additionally, PacBio Iso-seq was performed on a male and a female blowfly, along with two developed maggots, to assist with genome annotation. We mapped thirty-three RNA-seq reads, obtained from age 80 to 130 (3 replicates per 10-hour age cohort), to the annotated transcripts. This analysis aimed to identify genes that exhibit consistent upregulation or downregulation, which can serve as markers for age prediction in maggots and improve time since death investigation.