Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) de novo genomes to study the demographic history and genetic diversity of southern seals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Monachinae, or southern seals, are one of two subfamilies within the Phocidae and are home to iconic pinnipeds such as the leopard seal, a fierce Antarctic top predator, and the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world's most endangered mammals. These two species are difficult to study and sample, due to their hidden lives in extreme environments or, in case of the monk seal, their critically reduced population sizes; consequently, genetic data from these two species is scarce. However, cost developments and advances in genome sequencing have made it possible to generate continuous genome assemblies from DNA of even stranded individuals, allowing to assemble the first reference genomes of such rarely observed species.

Results

In this study, we have sequenced

SUBMITTER: Nebenfuhr M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12004778 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature