Sequencing and characterization of the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) transcriptome

Studies on the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) have advanced our general understanding of ecology and evolutionary biology but progress in that understanding has been hampered by a lack of genetic and genomic tools. Next-generation sequencing tools are providing researchers with a relatively fast and affordable option to develop genomic tools. Here we present a de novo assembly of the guppy transcriptome using 454 sequence reads. We also evaluate some of the uses of the transcriptome, including a pilot study in gene expression differences using Illumina short sequence reads.