Draft genome assembly of the Bengalese finch, Lonchura striata domestica, a model for motor skill variability and learning.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vocal learning in songbirds has emerged as a powerful model for sensorimotor learning. Neurobehavioral studies of Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata domestica) song, naturally more variable and plastic than songs of other finch species, have demonstrated the importance of behavioral variability for initial learning, maintenance, and plasticity of vocalizations. However, the molecular and genetic underpinnings of this variability and the learning it supports are poorly understood.

Findings

To establish a platform for the molecular analysis of behavioral variability and plasticity, we generated an initial draft assembly of the Bengalese finch genome from a single male animal to 151× coverage and an N50 of 3.0 MB. Furthermore, we developed an initial set of gene model

SUBMITTER: Colquitt BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5861438 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature