Backström lab

Evolutionary genomics of natural populations

Characterizing the genetic basis of traits of importance for local adaptation and species recognition is a major aim for evolutionary biologists of today.

We use a combination of genetic mapping, population genetics and comparative genomics approaches to study the speciation process, the genetic basis of adaptive traits and patterns of genome evolution. We are primarily using natural populations of butterflies as study organisms.

Read more about our research

Backström lab

Backström lab 2023

Group members

Research leader: Niclas Backström

Group members: Jesper Boman, Ali Farhadian Langroudi

Publications

Divergence in expression of a singing-related neuroplasticity gene in the brains of 2 Ficedula flycatchers and their hybrids

Wheatcroft, David; Backström, Niclas; Dutoit, Ludovic; McFarlane, S. Eryn et al.

Part of G3, 2025
- DOI for Divergence in expression of a singing-related neuroplasticity gene in the brains of 2 Ficedula flycatchers and their hybrids
- Download full text (pdf) of Divergence in expression of a singing-related neuroplasticity gene in the brains of 2 Ficedula flycatchers and their hybrids
Isotope geolocation and population genomics in Vanessa cardui: Short- and long-distance migrants are genetically undifferentiated

Reich, Megan S.; Shipilina, Daria; Talla, Venkat; Bahleman, Farid et al.

Part of PNAS Nexus, 2025
- DOI for Isotope geolocation and population genomics in Vanessa cardui: Short- and long-distance migrants are genetically undifferentiated
- Download full text (pdf) of Isotope geolocation and population genomics in Vanessa cardui: Short- and long-distance migrants are genetically undifferentiated
On the origin of an insular hybrid butterfly species

Boman, Jesper; Nolen, Zachary J.; Backström, Niclas

Part of Evolution, p. 510-524, 2025
- DOI for On the origin of an insular hybrid butterfly species
- Download full text (pdf) of On the origin of an insular hybrid butterfly species
Trans-Atlantic Dispersal and Introgression Explain Holarctic Disjunct Distributions in Vanessa Butterflies

Palahi i Torres, Aleix; Garcia-Berro, Aurora; Dinca, Vlad; Voda, Raluca et al.

Part of Molecular Ecology, 2025
- DOI for Trans-Atlantic Dispersal and Introgression Explain Holarctic Disjunct Distributions in Vanessa Butterflies
- Download full text (pdf) of Trans-Atlantic Dispersal and Introgression Explain Holarctic Disjunct Distributions in Vanessa Butterflies
Temporal dynamics of faster neo-Z evolution in butterflies

Höök, Lars; Vila, Roger; Wiklund, Christer; Backström, Niclas

Part of Evolution, p. 1554-1567, 2024
- DOI for Temporal dynamics of faster neo-Z evolution in butterflies
- Download full text (pdf) of Temporal dynamics of faster neo-Z evolution in butterflies
Meiotic drive against chromosome fusions in butterfly hybrids

Boman, Jesper; Wiklund, Christer; Vila, Roger; Backström, Niclas

Part of Chromosome Research, 2024
- DOI for Meiotic drive against chromosome fusions in butterfly hybrids
- Download full text (pdf) of Meiotic drive against chromosome fusions in butterfly hybrids
A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation for the Clouded Apollo Butterfly (Parnassius mnemosyne): A Species of Global Conservation Concern

Höglund, Jacob; Dias, Guilherme; Olsen, Remi-André; Soares, André et al.

Part of Genome Biology and Evolution, 2024
- DOI for A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation for the Clouded Apollo Butterfly (Parnassius mnemosyne): A Species of Global Conservation Concern
- Download full text (pdf) of A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation for the Clouded Apollo Butterfly (Parnassius mnemosyne): A Species of Global Conservation Concern
Migratory behaviour is positively associated with genetic diversity in butterflies

Garcia-Berro, Aurora; Talla, Venkat; Vila, Roger; Wai, Hong Kar et al.

Part of Molecular Ecology, p. 560-574, 2023
- DOI for Migratory behaviour is positively associated with genetic diversity in butterflies
- Download full text (pdf) of Migratory behaviour is positively associated with genetic diversity in butterflies
Environmental stress during larval development induces DNA methylation shifts in the migratory painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)

Boman, Jesper; Zhu, Yishu; Höök, Lars; Vila, Roger et al.

Part of Molecular Ecology, p. 3513-3523, 2023
- DOI for Environmental stress during larval development induces DNA methylation shifts in the migratory painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
- Download full text (pdf) of Environmental stress during larval development induces DNA methylation shifts in the migratory painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui)
Base composition, codon usage and patterns of gene sequence evolution in butterflies.

Näsvall, Karin; Boman, Jesper; Talla, Venkat; Backström, Niclas

Part of Genome Biology and Evolution, 2023
- DOI for Base composition, codon usage and patterns of gene sequence evolution in butterflies.
- Download full text (pdf) of Base composition, codon usage and patterns of gene sequence evolution in butterflies.

Part of research areas

Evolutionary Biology