Comparative genomics reveals insights into avian genome evolution and adaptation
University of Copenhagen · China National GeneBank · +56 more institutions
Abstract
Birds are the most species-rich class of tetrapod vertebrates and have wide relevance across many research fields. We explored bird macroevolution using full genomes from 48 avian species representing all major extant clades. The avian genome is principally characterized by its constrained size, which predominantly arose because of lineage-specific erosion of repetitive elements, large segmental deletions, and gene loss. Avian genomes furthermore show a remarkably high degree of evolutionary stasis at the levels of nucleotide sequence, gene synteny, and chromosomal structure. Despite this pattern of conservation, we detected many non-neutral evolutionary changes in protein-coding genes and noncoding regions.…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 41.68
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 218
Authors
139- GZGuojie ZhangCorresponding
University of Copenhagen, China National GeneBank
- CLCai LiCorresponding
University of Copenhagen, Natural History Museum Aarhus, China National GeneBank
- QLQiye Li
University of Copenhagen, Natural History Museum Aarhus, China National GeneBank
- BLBo Li
China National GeneBank
- DMDenis M. Larkin
University of London, Royal Veterinary College
Topics & keywords
- Synteny
- Biology
- Genome
- Evolutionary biology
- Comparative genomics
- Macroevolution
- Vertebrate
- Lineage (genetic)
- Life in Land