De novo sequencing and initial annotation of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) genome.

ABSTRACT: The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is a member of the rodent family that displays several features not found in mice or rats, including sensory specializations and social patterns more similar to those in humans. These features have made gerbils a valuable animal for research studies of auditory and visual processing, brain development, learning and memory, and neurological disorders. Here, we report the whole gerbil annotated genome sequence, and identify important similarities and differences to the human and mouse genomes. We further analyze the chromosomal structure of eight genes with high relevance for controlling neural signaling and demonstrate a high degree of homology between these genes in mouse and gerbil. This homology increases the likelihood that individual genes c

SUBMITTER: Zorio DAR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6129228 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature