Understanding Asteraceae: Validation of a Hyb-Seq probe set for evolutionary studies
Accurately reconstructing the relationships between different species requires analyzing the sequences of a judiciously selected, and preferably large, sample of different genes. Hybrid capture with high-throughput sequencing, or Hyb-Seq, is a powerful tool for obtaining those gene sequences, but must be calibrated for each group analyzed to ensure an informative sample of genes are sequenced. Researchers must take a variety of considerations into account when selecting which genes to sequence, and the choices made in gene sampling can affect the outcome of the analysis. In work presented in a recent issue of Applications in Plant Sciences, Dr. Katy Jones and colleagues evaluated the performance of a Hyb-Seq probe set designed for the large and diverse sunflower family, Asteraceae, and found it to be effective in reconstructing relationships at multiple taxonomic levels, from subspecies to tribe.