Sequencing of Synergus itoensis and Synergus gifuensis
In order to gain some insight on the mechanism of gall induction in cynipid wasps, we sequenced the genomes of the gall inducing wasp Synergus itoensis and it's close relative inquiline wasp (lacking the ability to induce galls) Synergus gifuensis. We then compared orthologues genes from four species (the two already mentioned and the already sequenced inquilines S. japonicus and S. umbraculus) and used selection analysis to identify genes that are under positive selection on gall-inducers but not on inquilines.