Interspecies transcriptomics identify genes that underlie disproportionate foot growth in jerboas.

ABSTRACT: Despite the great diversity of vertebrate limb proportion and our deep understanding of the genetic mechanisms that drive skeletal elongation, little is known about how individual bones reach different lengths in any species. Here, we directly compare the transcriptomes of homologous growth cartilages of the mouse (Mus musculus) and bipedal jerboa (Jaculus jaculus), the latter of which has "mouse-like" arms but extremely long metatarsals of the feet. Intersecting gene-expression differences in metatarsals and forearms of the two species revealed that about 10% of orthologous genes are associated with the disproportionately rapid elongation of neonatal jerboa feet. These include genes and enriched pathways not previously associated with endochondral elongation as well as those that might di

SUBMITTER: Saxena A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8792248 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature