Giraffe genome sequence reveals clues to its unique morphology and physiology

Agaba, Morris; Ishengoma, Edson; Miller, Webb C.; McGrath, Barbara C.; Hudson, Chelsea N.; Bedoya Reina, Oscar C.; Ratan, Aakrosh; Burhans, Rico; Chikhi, Rayan; Medvedev, Paul; Praul, Craig A.; Wu-Cavener, Lan; Wood, Brendan; Robertson, Heather; Penfold, Linda; Cavener, Douglas R.

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dc.creator	Agaba, Morris
dc.creator	Ishengoma, Edson
dc.creator	Miller, Webb C.
dc.creator	McGrath, Barbara C.
dc.creator	Hudson, Chelsea N.
dc.creator	Bedoya Reina, Oscar C.
dc.creator	Ratan, Aakrosh
dc.creator	Burhans, Rico
dc.creator	Chikhi, Rayan
dc.creator	Medvedev, Paul
dc.creator	Praul, Craig A.
dc.creator	Wu-Cavener, Lan
dc.creator	Wood, Brendan
dc.creator	Robertson, Heather
dc.creator	Penfold, Linda
dc.creator	Cavener, Douglas R.
dc.date	2019-05-27T06:09:42Z
dc.date	2019-05-27T06:09:42Z
dc.date	2016-05-16
dc.date.accessioned	2022-10-25T09:20:38Z
dc.date.available	2022-10-25T09:20:38Z
dc.identifier	DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11519
dc.identifier	http://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz/handle/123456789/212
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/95114
dc.description	Research Article published by Nature Communications
dc.description	The origins of giraffe’s imposing stature and associated cardiovascular adaptations are unknown. Okapi, which lacks these unique features, is giraffe’s closest relative and provides a useful comparison, to identify genetic variation underlying giraffe’s long neck and cardiovascular system. The genomes of giraffe and okapi were sequenced, and through comparative analyses genes and pathways were identified that exhibit unique genetic changes and likely contribute to giraffe’s unique features. Some of these genes are in the HOX, NOTCH and FGF signalling pathways, which regulate both skeletal and cardiovascular development, suggesting that giraffe’s stature and cardiovascular adaptations evolved in parallel through changes in a small number of genes. Mitochondrial metabolism and volatile fatty acids transport genes are also evolutionarily diverged in giraffe and may be related to its unusual diet that includes toxic plants. Unexpectedly, substantial evolutionary changes have occurred in giraffe and okapi in double-strand break repair and centrosome functions.
dc.format	application/pdf
dc.language	en_US
dc.publisher	Nature Communications
dc.subject	Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES
dc.title	Giraffe genome sequence reveals clues to its unique morphology and physiology
dc.type	Article