miércoles, 28 de diciembre de 2016

First genome sequence of Amur leopard highlights the drawback of a meat only diet

First genome sequence of Amur leopard highlights the drawback of a meat only diet
Biomed Central

First genome sequence of Amur leopard highlights the drawback of a meat only diet

The first whole genome sequence of the Far Eastern Amur leopard is published in the open access journal Genome Biology, providing new insight into carnivory and how it impacts on genetic diversity and population size.
Mr. Yunsung Cho, lead author from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, said: “Using the Amur leopard genome and comparing it to that of other mammalian genomes we found that carnivory seems to be a strong selection force for genes involved in dietary adaptation - something not as apparent in mammals that are omnivores or herbivores. For example, cows could eat meat without it having a major impact on their health, but leopards eating grass would quickly die as they have evolved to survive on meat.”
Specialized diets result in physiological, biochemical and morphological adaptations and carnivory is considered to be an evolutionary instable diet. Current research shows that animals in the cat family, Felidae, have relatively low genetic diversity and small population sizes. This could be due to the inflexible nature of their strict diet and explains their vulnerability and critical conservation status.
Mr. Cho explained: “Carnivory related genetic adaptations such as extreme agility, muscle power and specialized diet make leopards such successful predators, but these lifestyle traits also make them genetically vulnerable.”
An international team of researchers sequenced the Amur leopard genome using a muscle sample of a female from Korea. They then analyzed a further 18 mammalian genomes including eight carnivores (domestic cat, tiger, cheetah, lion, leopard, polar bear, killer whale and Tasmanian devil), five omnivores (human, mouse, dog, pig, and opossum) and five herbivores (giant panda, cow, horse, rabbit, and elephant). Comparing the genomes they found that carnivores share two genes that are not present in other genomes that play an important role in bone development and repair, which could drive selection for a diet specialized towards meat.
Professor Steve O’Brien, who has been researching rare endangered cat species for decades emphasizes that “Leopards are the most widespread species of the big cats, found in Africa to the Russian Far East, and thrive in a variety of environments. However, populations are fast declining, especially the Amur leopard, which is now critically endangered and perhaps the most endangered animal species on Earth”.
This is the first de novo genome assembly and the second leopard genome to be sequenced following the snow leopard published in 2013. The researchers hope that this Amur leopard reference genome will serve as a useful tool for understanding Felidae evolution and aid conservation.
Dr. Soonok Kim, who initiated and led the project as the PI of National Institute of Biological Resources of Korea adds: “Cats are also a good model for studying health issues, such as human diabetes, and this new leopard genome reference is an environmental treasure that could help us understand these conditions further”.
-ENDS-
Media Contact
Alanna Orpen
Junior Press Officer
BioMed Central
T: +44 (0)20 3192 2054
E: alanna.orpen@biomedcentral.com
Notes to editors
1. Images are available here:
http://bit.ly/2e3ZPiS
Credit information in the file names. Please credit the images in any re-use.
2. Comparison of three dietary groups in mammals: carnivore, omnivore, and herbivore genome analyses with a new leopard assembly
Soonok Kim, Yun Sung Cho, Hak-Min Kim et al.
Genome Biology 2016
The article is available at the journal website.
Please name the journal in any story you write. If you are writing for the web, please link to the article. All articles are available free of charge, according to BioMed Central's open access policy.
3. Genome Biology covers all areas of biology and biomedicine studied from a genomic and post-genomic perspective. Content includes research, new methods and software tools, and reviews, opinions and commentaries. Areas covered include, but are not limited to: sequence analysis; bioinformatics; insights into molecular, cellular and organismal biology; functional genomics; epigenomics; population genomics; proteomics; comparative biology and evolution; systems and network biology; genomics of disease; and clinical genomics. All content is open access immediately on publication.
4. BioMed Central is an STM (Science, Technology and Medicine) publisher which has pioneered the open access publishing model. All peer-reviewed research articles published by BioMed Central are made immediately and freely accessible online, and are licensed to allow redistribution and reuse. BioMed Central is part of Springer Nature, a major new force in scientific, scholarly, professional and educational publishing, created in May 2015 through the combination of Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, Macmillan Education and Springer Science+Business Media. 

No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario