The novel evolution of the sperm whale genome

The sperm whale, made famous by Moby Dick, is one of the most fascinating of all ocean-dwelling species given their unique life history, novel physiological adaptations to hunting squid at extreme ocean depths, and their position as one of the earliest branching toothed whales (Odontoceti). We assem...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Warren, Wesley C., Kuderna, Lukas, 1989-, Alexander, Alana, Catchen, Julian, Pérez Silva, José G., López Otín, Carlos, Quesada, Víctor, Minx, Patrick, Tomlinson, Chad, Montague, Michael J., Farias, Fabiana, Walter, Ronald B., Marquès i Bonet, Tomàs, 1975-, Glenn, Travis, Kieran, Troy John, Wise, Sandra S., Wise, John Pierce, Waterhouse, Robert M.
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Recursos:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10230/34291
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10230/34291
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evx187
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Sperm whale genome
Cetaceans
Descrição
Resumo:The sperm whale, made famous by Moby Dick, is one of the most fascinating of all ocean-dwelling species given their unique life history, novel physiological adaptations to hunting squid at extreme ocean depths, and their position as one of the earliest branching toothed whales (Odontoceti). We assembled the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) genome and resequenced individuals from multiple ocean basins to identify new candidate genes for adaptation to an aquatic environment and infer demographic history. Genes crucial for skin integrity appeared to be particularly important in both the sperm whale and other cetaceans. We also find sperm whales experienced a steep population decline during the early Pleistocene epoch. These genomic data add new comparative insight into the evolution of whales.