Why so many unknown genes? Partitioning orphans from a representative transcriptome of the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genomic resources within the phylum Arthropoda are largely limited to the true insects but are beginning to include unexplored subphyla, such as the Crustacea and Chelicerata. Investigations of these understudied taxa uncover high frequencies of orphan genes, which lack detectable sequence homology to genes in pre-existing databases. The ticks (Acari: Chelicerata) are one such understudied taxon for which genomic resources are urgently needed. Ticks are obligate blood-feeders that vector major diseases of humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife. In analyzing a transcriptome of the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum, one of the most abundant disease vectors in the United States, we find a high representation of unannotated sequences. We apply a general framework for q

SUBMITTER: Gibson AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3616916 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature