Author:
Low Wai Yee,Rosen Benjamin D.,Ren Yan,Bickhart Derek M.,To Thu-Hien,Martin Fergal J.,Billis Konstantinos,Sonstegard Tad S.,Sullivan Shawn T.,Hiendleder Stefan,Williams John L.,Heaton Michael P.,Smith Timothy P. L.
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The gaur (Bos gaurus) is the largest extant wild bovine species, native to South and Southeast Asia, with unique traits, and is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Results
We report the first gaur reference genome and identify three biological pathways including lysozyme activity, proton transmembrane transporter activity, and oxygen transport with significant changes in gene copy number in gaur compared to other mammals. These may reflect adaptation to challenges related to climate and nutrition. Comparative analyses with domesticated indicine (Bos indicus) and taurine (Bos taurus) cattle revealed genomic signatures of artificial selection, including the expansion of sperm odorant receptor genes in domesticated cattle, which may have important implications for understanding selection for male fertility.
Conclusions
Apart from aiding dissection of economically important traits, the gaur genome will also provide the foundation to conserve the species.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
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