The western painted turtle genome, a model for the evolution of extreme physiological adaptations in a slowly evolving lineage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We describe the genome of the western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii, one of the most widespread, abundant, and well-studied turtles. We place the genome into a comparative evolutionary context, and focus on genomic features associated with tooth loss, immune function, longevity, sex differentiation and determination, and the species' physiological capacities to withstand extreme anoxia and tissue freezing.

Results

Our phylogenetic analyses confirm that turtles are the sister group to living archosaurs, and demonstrate an extraordinarily slow rate of sequence evolution in the painted turtle. The ability of the painted turtle to withstand complete anoxia and partial freezing appears to be associated with common vertebrate gene networks, and we identify cand

SUBMITTER: Shaffer HB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4054807 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature