Comparison of genome sequencing studies of "Lonely George" and Aldabra elephant turtles.

According to two papers published online Thursday in nature ecology and evolution, scientists at Yale University in the United States have developed a new genome sequencing that promotes a human understanding of the size, longevity and evolutionary path of two giant tortoises, including the "Lonely George", an important symbol of global species conservation, and helps save other endangered species.
Lonely George is considered the rarest animal in the world and is the last iconic member of the now extinct Pinta Island tortoise in the Galapagos Islands.
was the only known individual in his family from 1971 until his death was confirmed in 2012.
, Yale researchers Carlos Lepe-Otting, Adalgisa Cakorn and colleagues sequenced the genomes of "Lonely George" and an Aldabra elephant turtle.
aldabra elephant turtle is the only remaining species of giant tortoise in the Indian Ocean.
by comparing the genomes of other close-edge species, the team found positive selection markers and dilating markers for the family of genes associated with metabolic regulation and immune response.
scientists believe the marks may be importantly related to the large size and longevity of the tortoises mentioned above.
longevity organisms are theoretically at higher risk of cancer, but the researchers found that the turtle's tumor suppressor genes expanded compared to other vertebrates, and that giant tortoise-specific changes were found in two genes known to cause cancer caused by overexpression.
While these findings suggest that there may be a giant tortoise-specific cancer mechanism, tumors are very rare in turtles, and further research is needed to determine whether these genomic features are related to tumor development.
researchers concluded that the data will help humans understand the biology of giant tortoises, reveal their distinctive size, longevity and evolutionary path, and, more importantly, will help humans protect other giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands from the "Lonely George" mistakes.
Source: Science Daily.