The tuatara genome: insights into vertebrate evolution from the sole survivor of an ancient reptilian order
Author:
Gemmell Neil J.ORCID, Rutherford KimORCID, Prost StefanORCID, Tollis MarcORCID, Winter DavidORCID, Macey J. Robert, Adelson David L.ORCID, Suh AlexanderORCID, Bertozzi TerryORCID, Grau José H., Organ ChrisORCID, Gardner Paul P., Muffato MatthieuORCID, Patricio MateusORCID, Billis KonstantinosORCID, Martin Fergal JORCID, Flicek PaulORCID, Petersen BentORCID, Kang Lin, Michalak Pawel, Buckley Thomas R.ORCID, Wilson MelissaORCID, Cheng Yuanyuan, Miller Hilary, Schott Ryan K.ORCID, Jordan MelissaORCID, Newcomb RichardORCID, Arroyo José Ignacio, Valenzuela NicoleORCID, Hore Tim A.ORCID, Renart JaimeORCID, Peona ValentinaORCID, Peart Claire R.ORCID, Warmuth Vera M.ORCID, Zeng LuORCID, Kortschak R. DanielORCID, Raison Joy M.ORCID, Zapata Valeria VelásquezORCID, Wu ZhiqiangORCID, Santesmasses DidacORCID, Mariotti MarcoORCID, Guigó RodericORCID, Rupp Shawn M., Twort Victoria G.ORCID, Dussex NicolasORCID, Taylor Helen, Abe HideakiORCID, Paterson James M., Mulcahy Daniel G.ORCID, Gonzalez Vanessa L., Barbieri Charles G., DeMeo Dustin P., Pabinger StephanORCID, Ryder OliverORCID, Edwards Scott V., Salzberg Steven L.ORCID, Mickelson Lindsay, Nelson NicolaORCID, Stone Clive, Board Ngatiwai Trust
Abstract
The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), the only living member of the archaic reptilian order Rhynchocephalia (Sphenodontia) once widespread across Gondwana, is an iconic and enigmatic terrestrial vertebrate endemic to New Zealand. A key link to the now extinct stem reptiles from which dinosaurs, modern reptiles, birds and mammals evolved, the tuatara provides exclusive insights into the ancestral amniotes. The tuatara genome, at ∼5 Gbp, is among the largest vertebrate genomes assembled. Analysis of this genome and comparisons to other vertebrates reinforces the uniqueness of the tuatara. Phylogenetic analyses indicate tuatara diverged from the snakes and lizards ∼250 MYA. This lineage also shows moderate rates of molecular evolution, with instances of punctuated evolution. Genome sequence analysis identifies expansions of protein, non-protein-coding RNA families, and repeat elements, the latter of which show an extraordinary amalgam of reptilian and mammalian features. Sequencing of this genome provides a valuable resource for deep comparative analyses of tetrapods, as well as for tuatara biology and conservation. It also provides important insights into both the technical challenges and the cultural obligations associated with genome sequencing.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cited by
1 articles.
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1. Sphenodon punctatus (tuatara);Trends in Genetics;2020-12
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