Project:

Are there cryptic species in Dubia cockroaches and white crickets?

Students:

Yuqing Gao, Mufan Wang

School:

Cold Spring Harbor Asia DNA Learning Center,

Mentors:

Xinyue Wang

Abstract:

This study focuses on the Blaptica dubia cockroach and the house cricket to conduct analyses on cryptic species and evolutionary relationships. Against the backdrop of the application of DNA barcoding technology, the identification of cryptic species in insect classification relies on genetic markers. Previous studies have utilized genes such as mitochondrial COI to reveal cryptic species in orders like Blattaria and Orthoptera, providing methodological references for this project. This project centers on these two insects, first establishing an efficient DNA extraction method. Through sequencing COI gene fragments from artificially bred populations, genetic differences are compared to detect cryptic species and construct a phylogenetic tree, clarifying evolutionary branches and degrees of kinship, and precisely resolving taxonomic status, contributing to the evolutionary research of cockroach and cricket groups.

Poster:

Team samples: