Whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide evolutionary analyses identify novel candidate genes associated with infrared perception in pit vipers.

ABSTRACT: Pit vipers possess a unique thermal sensory system consisting of facial pits that allow them to detect minute temperature fluctuations within their environments. Biologists have long attempted to elucidate the genetic basis underlying the infrared perception of pit vipers. Early studies have shown that the TRPA1 gene is the thermal sensor associated with infrared detection in pit vipers. However, whether genes other than TRPA1 are also involved in the infrared perception of pit vipers remains unknown. Here, we sequenced the whole exomes of ten snake species and performed genome-wide evolutionary analyses to search for novel candidate genes that might be involved in the infrared perception of pit vipers. We applied both branch-length-comparison and selection-pressure-alteration analyses to

SUBMITTER: Tu N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7400743 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature