Convergent and lineage-specific genomic changes shape adaptations in sugar-consuming birds
Summary
High-sugar diets cause human metabolic diseases, yet several bird lineages convergently adapted to feeding on sugar-rich nectar or fruits. We investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms in hummingbirds, parrots, honeyeaters, and sunbirds by generating nine new genomes and 90 tissue-specific transcriptomes. Comparative screens revealed an excess of repeated selection in both protein-coding and regulatory sequences in sugar-feeding birds, suggesting reuse of genetic elements. Sequence o
Content
# Convergent and lineage-specific genomic changes shape adaptations in sugar-consuming birds
*Published: 2026 Feb 26*
High-sugar diets cause human metabolic diseases, yet several bird lineages
convergently adapted to feeding on sugar-rich nectar or fruits. We investigated
the underlying molecular mechanisms in hummingbirds, parrots, honeyeaters, and
sunbirds by generating nine new genomes and 90 tissue-specific transcriptomes.
Comparative screens revealed an excess of repeated selection in both
protein-coding and regulatory sequences in sugar-feeding birds, suggesting reuse
of genetic elements. Sequence or expression changes in sugar-feeders affect
genes involved in blood pressure regulation and lipid, amino acid, and
carbohydrate metabolism, with experiments showing functional changes in
honeyeater hexokinase 3. MLXIPL, a key regulator of sugar and lipid homeostasis,
showed convergent sequence and regulatory changes across all sugar-feeding
clades; experiments revealed enhanced sugar-induced transcriptional activity of
hummingbird MLXIPL, highlighting its adaptive role in high-sugar diets.
DOI: 10.1126/science.adt1522