Researchers Map Genome for Cats, Dolphins, Birds, and Dozens of Other Animals
Published:14 Mar.2024 Source:Johns Hopkins University
Researchers mapped genetic blueprints for 51 species including cats, dolphins, kangaroos, penguins, sharks, and turtles, a discovery that deepens human’s understanding of evolution and the links between humans and animals. Being able to access that genetic information will have huge implications for understanding human health and evolution. A lot of work on drug compounds starts in mice and other animal models, so understanding their genomes and the genomes of other animals directly benefits humanity.
The team, working with the Vertebrate Genomes Project, sequenced the genomes of 51 vertebrate species, prioritizing those that are useful models for understanding human evolution. Vertebrate genomes are billions of characters long, too long for any gene sequencing technology to read in one complete pass. The researchers developed novel algorithms and computer software that cut the sequencing time from months--or decades in the case of the human genome--to a matter of days.
Mammals, a subset of vertebrates that includes primates, dogs, cats, mice, and humans, share 50% to 99% of the same DNA and nearly all the genes from a common ancestor that lived roughly 200 million years ago. By comparing the complete genomes of these species, researchers can start to identify when and where DNA sequences diverged and the implications of those differences for humans. The team will continue working with the Vertebrate Genomes Project to sequence the genomes of at least one species across all 275 vertebrate orders.