The origin and domestication of experimental rats were studied on the genetic mechanism.

Recently, Zhang Yaping of Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with Wu Dongdong, analyzed the origin and domestication genetic mechanism of experimental rats by comparing the genome and transcription group data of wild brown family mice and experimental rats.
the study was published in Molycular Biology and Evolution.
as a widely used model animal, it is domesticated by wild brown family rats and is also a domesticated animal.
compared with their wild ancestors, brown family mice, the experimental rats changed greatly in form, behavior and physiology, but the origin of the experimental rats and the mechanisms that led to their successful domestication are not clear.
Using population genetics methods, FST and cross-extended populations haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH) scanned areas of differentiation between wild brown home mice and experimental rat populations across a whole gene range and found that a large number of neurological genes were artificially selected during the domestication of rats.
, for example, FOXP2 and B3GAT1, which play an important role in learning memory, and the rhythm-related gene BLOCK.
the expression levels of these genes in the nerve tissues of laboratory rats increased significantly, helping to improve learning and memory.
researchers speculate that improved learning and memory skills may be the key to domestication of laboratory rats.
addition, based on transcription group analysis and qPCR data, energy metabolism-related genes were significantly increased in the brain tissue of laboratory rats, which laid a good foundation for further revealing the genetic mechanism of domestication in laboratory rats.
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