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After hitting rock bottom a few months into a prestigious fellowship, a postdoc recounts how they found their way to ADHD medication, therapy, and better mental health. 

Abstract The assembly of genomes from pooled samples of genetically heterogenous samples of conspecifics remains challenging. In this study, we show that high‐quality genome assemblies can be produced from samples of multiple wild‐caught individuals. We sequenced DNA extracted from a pooled sample of conspecific herbivorous insects (Hemiptera: Miridae:Tupiocoris notatus) acquired from a greenhouse infestation in Tucson, Arizona (in the range of 30–100 individuals; 0.5 mL tissue by volume) using PacBio highly accurate long reads (HiFi). The initial assembly contained multiple haplotigs (>85% BUSCOs duplicated), but duplicate contigs could be easily purged to reveal a highly complete assembly (95.6% BUSCO, 4.4% duplicated) that is highly contiguous by short‐read assembly standards (N₅₀ = 675 kb; Largest contig = 4.3 Mb). We then used our assembly as the basis for a genome‐guided differential expression study of host plant‐specific transcriptional responses. We found thousands of genes (N = 4982) to be differentially expressed between our new data from individuals feeding onDatura wrightii(Solanaceae) and existing RNA‐seq data fromNicotiana attenuata(Solanaceae)‐fed individuals. We identified many of these genes as previously documented detoxification genes such as glutathione‐S‐transferases, cytochrome P450s, and UDP‐glucosyltransferases. Together our results show that long‐read sequencing of pooled samples can provide a cost‐effective genome assembly option for small insects and can provide insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying interactions between plants and herbivorous pests. 

Abstract The sacred datura plant (Solanales: Solanaceae:Datura wrightii) has been used to study plant–herbivore interactions for decades. The wealth of information that has resulted leads it to have potential as a model system for studying the ecological and evolutionary genomics of these interactions. We present a de novoDatura wrightiigenome assembled using PacBio HiFi long-reads. Our assembly is highly complete and contiguous (N50 = 179Mb, BUSCO Complete = 97.6%). We successfully detected a previously documented ancient whole genome duplication using our assembly and have classified the gene duplication history that generated its coding sequence content. We use it as the basis for a genome-guided differential expression analysis to identify the induced responses of this plant to one of its specialized herbivores (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae:Lema daturaphila). We find over 3000 differentially expressed genes associated with herbivory and that elevated expression levels of over 200 genes last for several days. We also combined our analyses to determine the role that different gene duplication categories have played in the evolution ofDatura-herbivore interactions. We find that tandem duplications have expanded multiple functional groups of herbivore responsive genes with defensive functions, including UGT-glycosyltranserases, oxidoreductase enzymes, and peptidase inhibitors. Overall, our results expand our knowledge of herbivore-induced plant transcriptional responses and the evolutionary history of the underlying herbivore-response genes. 

Abstract The sphinx moth genus Hyles comprises 29 described species inhabiting all continents except Antarctica. The genus diverged relatively recently (40–25 MYA), arising in the Americas and rapidly establishing a cosmopolitan distribution. The whitelined sphinx moth, Hyles lineata, represents the oldest extant lineage of this group and is one of the most widespread and abundant sphinx moths in North America. Hyles lineata exhibits the large body size and adept flight control characteristic of the sphinx moth family (Sphingidae), but it is unique in displaying extreme larval color variation and broad host plant use. These traits, in combination with its broad distribution and high relative abundance within its range, have made H. lineata a model organism for studying phenotypic plasticity, plant–herbivore interactions, physiological ecology, and flight control. Despite being one of the most well-studied sphinx moths, little data exist on genetic variation or regulation of gene expression. Here, we report a high-quality genome showing high contiguity (N50 of 14.2 Mb) and completeness (98.2% of Lepidoptera BUSCO genes), an important first characterization to facilitate such studies. We also annotate the core melanin synthesis pathway genes and confirm that they have high sequence conservation with other moths and are most similar to those of another, well-characterized sphinx moth, the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta).