Two Reference-Quality Sea Snake Genomes Reveal Their Divergent Evolution of Adaptive Traits and Venom Systems.

ABSTRACT: True sea snakes (Hydrophiini) are among the last and most successful clades of vertebrates that show secondary marine adaptation, exhibiting diverse phenotypic traits and lethal venom systems. To better understand their evolution, we generated the first chromosome-level genomes of two representative Hydrophiini snakes, Hydrophis cyanocinctus and H. curtus. Through comparative genomics we identified a great expansion of the underwater olfaction-related V2R gene family, consisting of more than 1,000 copies in both snakes. A series of chromosome rearrangements and genomic structural variations were recognized, including large inversions longer than 30 megabase (Mb) on sex chromosomes which potentially affect key functional genes associated with differentiated phenotypes between the two specie

SUBMITTER: Li A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8557462 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature