Chromosome-Level Genomics and Historical Museum Collections Reveal New Insights Into the Population Structure and Chromosome Evolution of Waterbuck.

ABSTRACT: Advances in sequencing and chromosome-scale assembly have brought non-model animals into focus, deepening our understanding of genome and chromosome evolution. Here, we present the waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) as an emerging model antelope for studying population dynamics and chromosome evolution. Waterbuck evolutionary history has been shaped by both climatic and geographic changes, as well as structural chromosome changes, principally Robertsonian (Rb) fusions. To provide new insights into waterbuck evolution, we generated a chromosome-level genome assembly for the species using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing. We further leveraged museum collections to perform whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 24 historical specimens. Combined with a previous WGS dataset (n = 119), this represents th

SUBMITTER: Kirkland C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12745853 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature