There are some tigers who do not have the characteristic orange skin. Instead, they have white skin due to a mutation in the SLC45A2 gene. This mutation reduces the production of pheomelanin (the yellow or orange pigment in their fur) but retains some eumelanin (the black pigment), which forms their distinctive dark stripes. 10.1093/gigascience/giac112 (12/28/2022)…
Genomic interest areas: Extinction risk
Leopard
Panthera pardus, the leopard, has a spot pattern unique to each individual, akin to human fingerprints. Its genome reveals adaptations that allow it to live in a wide variety of habitats. DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac128, Publication date: August/17/2022 Authors: Judith Agel Gelis, Mattin Arana Lopetegi, Arnau Crehueras Getan, Leia Tomàs Puig
Atlantic puffin
Fratercula arctica, the atlantic puffin, is an iconic seabird species, important for tourism, and inherently valuable for the marine ecosystem. Its genome includes thousands of loci that help identify relevant conservation units for seabirds. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02415-4 (July/29/2021) Authors: Aina Baldomà Fort, Javier Cordero Plaza, Maria Donés Guillamet, Julia Íñiguez Sanz
Bactrian camel
Camelus bactrianus, the Bactrian camel, has two humps where they can store energy in the form of fat, allowing them to survive long periods without food or water. Its genome also reveals genes with resistance insulin functions. https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2192 (November/13/2012) Authors: Júlia Bou Vallès, Laia Xin Mercadé Pelfort, Ivett Moro Rodríguez, Paula Valero Delgado
Great white shark
Carcharodon carcharias, the great white shark has a high capacity to heal wounds, a key factor in its lifespan of 73 years. Its genome reveals molecular adaptations and positive selection of key genes involved in wound healing. 10.1073/pnas.1819778116 Author: Oscar Santamaria
European eel
Its body is covered in a slimy mucus layer and its coloration ranges from olive-brown to yellowish on the belly. They live in freshwater but migrate to the sea to spawn. Specifically, they are born in the Sargasso Sea, then drift thousands of kilometers across the ocean to European rivers, where they spend most of…
Lowland anoa
Bubalus depressicornis, the lowland anoa, is a wild dwarf buffalo endemic to Indonesia. Its genome provides evolutionary data on wild species of the genus Bubalus, as well as information on the similarities and differences between them and domestic species. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac234 September/16/2022 Authors: Rubén Lorenzo Martínez, Luna Lozano Sanchez, Carla Martin Rodriguez, Lara Martínez De la…
Blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus, the blue whale, is the largest animal known to have ever existed. Its genome sequencing aids in understanding marine mammal biology, longevity, and resistance to cancer. 10.1093/molbev/msae036 (Feb 20, 2024) Authors: Berta Poch Ordoñez, Cynthia Ramírez Arias, Daniel Robledillo Manotas, Gracia del Pilar Sánchez López
Western gorilla
Western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) is a species of primate in the family Hominidae (great apes). The reference sequence is from the fibroblast of a male and mature gorilla. The size of the genome is of 3500 Mb, the number of coding genes are 22365 and they have 24 chromosomes. The article where the genome of…
Red deer
Cervus elaphus, the red deer, is one of the largest deer species. Its genome sequencing provides insights into deer evolution, adaptation, and conservation strategies. 10.1007/s00438-017-1412-3 (Jan 2, 2018)