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
Kingdom: Metazoa
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
Prussian carp
The Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) has one of the most unusual genomes in the animal kingdom—some populations reproduce asexually through a process called gynogenesis, where the sperm from a male of another species is needed to trigger egg development, but the sperm’s DNA is not incorporated into the offspring. As a result, some individuals are…
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
Water buffalo
Bubalus bubalis, the water buffalo, is a mammal that can swim up to 50 km/h and hold its breath for 5 minutes. Its genome sequencing aids in understanding buffalo genetics, livestock maintainance and milk production. https://doi.org/10.1101/618785 (January/02/2020) Authors: Adrià Casas Colom, Sergi Garcia Fontanet, Paula Lluma Mañas, Neosbel Jordan Ortiz Sandoval, Jan Pericas Morales
Whale shark
The whale shark, is the largest fish in the world. Its genome presents long neuron-related genes as some other long-lived organisms. 10.1186/s12864-017-3926-9 Author: Tomas González Dantas
Urinary blood fluke
Urinary schistosomiasis has afflicted humans for over 5,000 years. Ancient Egyptian papyri record “bloody urine” (parasite eggs were found in mummies dating to 1250–1000 BC) and in 1798 Napoleon’s soldiers dubbed Egypt “the land of menstruating men” due to widespread haematuria. 10.1038/ng.1065 Author: Oscar Gonzalo Figueredo
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
Whitespotted bambooshark
Chiloscyllium plagiosum, the whitespotted bambooshark, is a nocturnal reef-dwelling and small species (with a length of 24-37 inches). Its genome size is larger than a whale shark. Zhang Y, Gao H, Li H, Guo J, Ouyang B, Wang M, et al. (November 2020). “The White-Spotted Bamboo Shark Genome Reveals Chromosome Rearrangements and Fast-Evolving Immune Genes…
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…