Giraffe genome sequence reveals clues to its unique morphology and physiology

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dc.creatorAgaba, Morris
dc.creatorIshengoma, Edson
dc.creatorMiller, Webb C.
dc.creatorMcGrath, Barbara C.
dc.creatorHudson, Chelsea N.
dc.creatorBedoya Reina, Oscar C.
dc.creatorRatan, Aakrosh
dc.creatorBurhans, Rico
dc.creatorChikhi, Rayan
dc.creatorMedvedev, Paul
dc.creatorPraul, Craig A.
dc.creatorWu-Cavener, Lan
dc.creatorWood, Brendan
dc.creatorRobertson, Heather
dc.creatorPenfold, Linda
dc.creatorCavener, Douglas R.
dc.date2019-05-27T06:09:42Z
dc.date2019-05-27T06:09:42Z
dc.date2016-05-16
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-25T09:20:38Z
dc.date.available2022-10-25T09:20:38Z
dc.descriptionResearch Article published by Nature Communications
dc.descriptionThe 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.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierDOI: 10.1038/ncomms11519
dc.identifierhttp://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz/handle/123456789/212
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/95114
dc.languageen_US
dc.publisherNature Communications
dc.subjectResearch Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES
dc.titleGiraffe genome sequence reveals clues to its unique morphology and physiology
dc.typeArticle

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