The genetic mechanism of marine mammals' adaptation to environmental convergence and evolution revealed

The genetic mechanism of marine mammals' adaptation to environmental convergence and evolution revealed

The genetic mechanism of marine mammals' adaptation to the environment's convergent evolution was revealed

Marine mammals are a special kind of mammals adapted to the aquatic environment
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They rely on marine resources to survive or live entirely in the ocean, and a few live in freshwater environments (such as the unique baiji in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China) , including manatees, cetaceans, and pinnipeds in the Carnivora

, Including several main branches such as manatees, cetaceans and pinnipeds in the order Carnivora

Chinese Academy of Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences PNAS

The research carried out whole-genome sequencing and assembly of 17 marine mammal species from the department level, combined with published marine mammal genome data, and carried out a comparatively comprehensive comparative genomics analysis at the department level
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The study reconstructed the most comprehensive marine mammal phylogenetic tree ever based on genome-wide data, and further analyzed the three main branches of marine mammals from the perspectives of genome evolution, gene evolution, and conserved non-coding elements.

Phylogeny and population changes of marine mammals
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Photo courtesy of Institute of Deep Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Phylogeny and population changes of marine mammals

NFIA UCP1 SMEA3E

Schematic diagram of temperature regulation of marine mammals
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Photo courtesy of Institute of Deep Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Schematic diagram of temperature regulation of marine mammals

XYLT1 FMA20B

Genetic changes related to aquatic adaptation
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Photo courtesy of Institute of Deep Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Genetic changes related to aquatic adaptation

Based on large-scale genome sequencing, researchers have established a comprehensive marine mammal genome data set, and provided more genetic evidence for marine mammals’ aquatic adaptation-related traits and the convergent evolution between different marine mammal branches.

Related paper information: https://doi.