Pygmy sperm whale multi-omics data reveal hypoxia adaptations in deep-diving cetaceans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Deep-diving cetaceans tolerate acute hypoxia better than their terrestrial ancestors and shallow-diving counterparts. However, our poor understanding of how genetic factors, cellular functions, and physiological characteristics combine to drive hypoxia adaptation in deep-diving cetaceans remains a critical gap.

Results

Here, we studied the genetic basis for this ability by creating a de novo genome assembly for the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and comparatively analyzing genomes from 12 cetacean species, including 2 other deep-diving cetaceans. We also sequenced and compared single-nucleus RNA data from the muscle and heart of the pygmy sperm whale and its terrestrial relative Bos taurus. We found that genetic and cellular changes in the HIF-1 pathway, elec

SUBMITTER: Guo W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12829268 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature