Insights into Platypus Population Structure and History from Whole-Genome Sequencing.

ABSTRACT: The platypus is an egg-laying mammal which, alongside the echidna, occupies a unique place in the mammalian phylogenetic tree. Despite widespread interest in its unusual biology, little is known about its population structure or recent evolutionary history. To provide new insights into the dispersal and demographic history of this iconic species, we sequenced the genomes of 57 platypuses from across the whole species range in eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. Using a highly improved reference genome, we called over 6.7 M SNPs, providing an informative genetic data set for population analyses. Our results show very strong population structure in the platypus, with our sampling locations corresponding to discrete groupings between which there is no evidence for recent gene flow. Genom

SUBMITTER: Martin HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5913675 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature