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RESEARCH PRODUCT

A high-quality genome assembly from short and long reads for the non-biting midge Chironomus riparius (Diptera)

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AbstractBackgroundChironomus riparius is of great importance as a study species in various fields like ecotoxicology, molecular genetics, developmental biology and ecology. However, only a fragmented draft genome exists to date, hindering the recent rush of population genomic studies in this species.FindingsMaking use of 50 NGS datasets, we present a hybrid genome assembly from short and long sequence reads that make C. riparius’ genome one of the most contiguous Dipteran genomes published, the first complete mitochondrial genome of the species and the respective recombination rate as one of the first insect recombination rates at all.ConclusionsThe genome and associated resources will be highly valuable to the broad community working with dipterans in general and chironomids in detail. The estimated recombination rate will help evolutionary biologist gain a better understanding of commonalities and differences of genomic patterns in insects.