Haplotype-resolved reference genomes of the sea turtle clade unveil ultra-syntenic genomes with hotspots of divergence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reference genomes for the entire sea turtle clade have the potential to reveal the genetic basis of traits driving the ecological and phenotypic diversity in these ancient and iconic marine species. Furthermore, these genomic resources can support conservation efforts and deepen our understanding of their unique evolution.

Results

We present haplotype-resolved, chromosome-level reference genomes and high-quality gene annotations for 5 sea turtle species. This completes the catalog of reference genomes of the entire sea turtle clade when combined with our previously published reference genomes. Our analysis reveals remarkable genome synteny and collinearity across all species, despite the clade's origin dating back more than 60 million years. Regions of high inters

SUBMITTER: Arantes LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12448945 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature