De novo genome assembly of a Geomyid rodent, Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae bottae).

ABSTRACT: Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) is a common and widespread subterranean rodent of the North American West. The species has been of great interest to evolutionary biologists due to the phenotypic diversity and unusual levels of variation in chromosome number and composition observed across its range. Here, we present a high-quality reference genome from a male T. b. bottae individual captured in the San Francisco Bay Area. The assembly is comprised of 2,792 scaffolds, with a scaffold N50 value of 23.6 Mb and a BUSCO completeness score of 91.0%. This genome helps fill a significant taxonomic sampling gap in rodent genome resources. With this reference genome, we envision new opportunities to investigate questions regarding the genomics of adaptation to the belowground niche. Further,

SUBMITTER: Voss ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12277567 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature