We analyzed the transcriptomes of Romalea microptera grasshoppers after 8 years of artificial selection for either long or short thoraces. Evolution proceeded rapidly during the experiment, with a 13.3% increase and a 32.2% decrease in mean pronotum lengths (sexes combined) in the up- and down-selected colonies, respectively, after only 11 generations. At least 16 additional traits also diverged between the two colonies during the selection experiment. Transcriptomic analysis identified 693 differentially expressed genes, with 386 upregulated and 307 downregulated (55.7% vs. 44.3%), including cellular process, metabolic process, binding, general function prediction only, and signal transduction mechanisms. Many of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are known to influence animal body size.

中文翻译：

---

人工选择蚱蜢大小后的转录组分析

经过 8 年的长胸或短胸人工选择后，我们分析了小翅蚱蜢的转录组。实验过程中进化进展迅速，仅经过 11 代，上选择群体和下选择群体的平均前胸背板长度（性别组合）分别增加了 13.3% 和减少了 32.2%。在选择实验期间，两个菌落之间至少还有 16 个其他性状存在差异。转录组分析鉴定出 693 个差异表达基因，其中 386 个上调，307 个下调（55.7% vs. 44.3%），包括细胞过程、代谢过程、结合、仅一般功能预测和信号转导机制。已知许多差异表达基因 (DEG) 会影响动物的体型。