Research Area

Evolutionary genomics and population genetics

Our research tackles some fundamental evolutionary questions such as speciation, adaptation, and introgression. In particular, our work focuses on integrating experimental and computational approaches to study adaptive introgression in model and non-model organisms. Our research interests also include investigating anti-predator adaptation such as mimicry, aposematic coloration, and camouflage in insects. We also conduct bionics and translational medical research based on extreme adaptive traits in arthropods, as well as develop analytical algorithms and experimental methods tailored for non-model organisms.

Selected Publications:

1. Liao M*, Chen X*, Zhao D*, Yuan D, Huang D, Yan Z, Huang L, Ni J, Ma Q, Pan Y, Hu Y, Moczek AP, Zhang W#, Ren C#, Li S#. Rewiring the DSX-E93 axis underlies convergent female-specific wing regression. Nat. Ecol. Evol. In press

2. Li F*, Lv Y*, Bian C, Perrin QM, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Cao L, Yu L, Guo S, Zhang W#, Shi Q#, Li D#. Transition from land to sea: Comparative genomics illuminates the adaptive evolution of the intertidal spider. Mol. Ecol. Resour. 2026 May;26(4):e70147.

3. Li F*, Yang H*, Zhang Y*, Wang S, Gu Q, Wu M, Jin P, Huang X, Zhong Y, Huang X, Lin Y, Guo X, Li Y, Zhang W#, Li S#. An ancient genome duplication event drives the development and evolution of spinnerets in spiders. Sci. Adv. 2026 Jan 16;12(3):eadw2173.

4. Luan Y#*, Zhang Y*, Li J, Zhu J, Lei Y, Hu Y, Xin Z, Xie T, Zheng J, Lin Y, Shen J, Cao Y, You X, Xi J, Wu J, Liu W, Zhang X, Zheng Y, Lohman DJ, Shi L#, Zhang W#. Mechanisms of aristolochic acid resistance in specialist butterflies and evolutionary insights for potential protective pathways. Adv. Sci. 2026 Jan 4:e18072.

5. Pei XJ*, Zhao D*, Luo J, Jia PY, Luo Y, Yuan DW, Hou WX, Zhang ZF, Huang DY, Ni JX, Gao HZ, Chen Z, Luan YX, Chen XX#, Zhang W#, Li S#. Redboy confers programed body color transition in orchid mantis. Nat. Ecol. Evol. 2025 Jul;9(7):1120–1137.

6. Zhang Y*, Zhu Q*, Shao Y, Jiang Y, Ouyang Y, Zhang L#, Zhang W#. Inferring historical introgression with deep learning. Syst. Biol. 2023 Nov 1;72(5):1013–1038.

7. Teng D, Zhang W#. The diversification of butterfly wing patterns: Progress and prospects. Curr. Opin. Insect Sci. 2023 Nov 3:61:101137.

8. Wu N, Evans E, van Schooten B, Meléndez-Rosa J, Ortiz Y, Planas Soto-Navarro SM, Van Belleghem SM, Counterman BA, Papa R#, Zhang W#. Widespread gene expression divergence in butterfly sensory tissues plays a fundamental role during reproductive isolation and speciation. Mol. Biol. Evol. 2022 Nov 3;39(11):msac225.

9. Wang S*, Teng D*, Li X*, Yang P, Da W, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Liu G, Zhang X, Wan W, Dong Z, Wang D, Huang S, Jiang Z, Wang Q, Lohman DJ, Wu Y, Zhang L, Jia F, Westerman E, Zhang L, Wang W, Zhang W#. The evolution and diversification of oakleaf butterflies. Cell 2022 Aug 18;185(17):3138–3152.

10. Zhang Y*, Teng D*, Lu W*, Liu M*, Zeng H, Cao L, Southcott L, Potdar S, Westerman E, Zhu AJ#, Zhang W#. A widely diverged locus involved in locomotor adaptation in Heliconius butterflies. Sci. Adv. 2021 Aug 4;7(32):eabh2340.