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Ground tit genome reveals avian adaptation to living at high altitudes in the Tibetan plateau

Author

Listed:
  • Yanhua Qu

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hongwei Zhao

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Naijian Han

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Guangyu Zhou

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Gang Song

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bin Gao

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shilin Tian

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Jinbo Zhang

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Ruiying Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xuehong Meng

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Yuan Zhang

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Yong Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaojia Zhu

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Wenjuan Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • David Lambert

    (Griffith School of Environment and School of Bimolecular and Physical Sciences, Griffith University, 170, Kessels Road)

  • Per G. P. Ericson

    (Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007)

  • Sankar Subramanian

    (Griffith School of Environment and School of Bimolecular and Physical Sciences, Griffith University, 170, Kessels Road)

  • Carol Yeung

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Hongmei Zhu

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Zhi Jiang

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute)

  • Ruiqiang Li

    (Novogene Bioinformatics Institute
    Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center (BIOPIC) and School of Life Sciences, Peking University)

  • Fumin Lei

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The ground tit (Parus humilis) is endemic to the Tibetan plateau. It is a member of family Paridae but it was long thought to be related to the ground jays because of their morphological similarities. Here we present the ground tit’s genome and re-sequence two tits and one ground jay, to clarify this controversially taxonomic status and uncover its genetic adaptations to the Tibetan plateau. Our results show that ground tit groups with two tits and it diverges from them between 7.7 and 9.9 Mya. Compared with other avian genomes, ground tit shows expansion in genes linked to energy metabolism and contractions in genes involved in immune and olfactory perception. We also found positively selected and rapidly evolving genes in hypoxia response and skeletal development. These results indicated that ground tit evolves basic strategies and ‘tit-to-jay’ change for coping with the life in an extreme environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanhua Qu & Hongwei Zhao & Naijian Han & Guangyu Zhou & Gang Song & Bin Gao & Shilin Tian & Jinbo Zhang & Ruiying Zhang & Xuehong Meng & Yuan Zhang & Yong Zhang & Xiaojia Zhu & Wenjuan Wang & David La, 2013. "Ground tit genome reveals avian adaptation to living at high altitudes in the Tibetan plateau," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3071
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3071
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