A large international consortium has sequenced the genome of 130 mammals and analyzed the data together with 110 existing genomes to allow scientist to identify which are the important positions in the DNA. This study, published today in Nature, can help advance research on disease mutations in humans as well as inform how best to preserve endangered species.
In addition to understanding the human genome, all these genomes together, sampled broadly across mammals, can be used to study how specific species adapt to different environments. For example, some otters have a thick, water-resistant coat, and some mice, but not all, have adapted to hibernation. These animal traits can help us understand human traits such as metabolic diseases.
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With climate change and more animal habitats being affected by human activities, it is becoming more and more important to defend endangered species. Traditionally, scientists study many individuals in different populations of a species to understand the genetic diversity that exist in it. This is important for understanding how to protect specific species. In this study, animals on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list of endangered species had less variation in their genome, which is consistent with their endangered status.
"We hope that our extensive data set, which is available to all scientists in the world, will be used for understanding disease genetics and the protection of biodiversity," says senior author Professor Kerstin Lindblad-Toh.