Comparative Genome Analysis Reveals the Genomic Basis of Semi-Aquatic Adaptation in American Mink (Neovison vison).

ABSTRACT: Although the American mink is extremely dependent on water and has evolved a range of aquatic characteristics, its structural adaptation to water is still less obvious than that of other typical semi-aquatic mammals, such as otters. Therefore, many scholars consider it not to be a semi-aquatic mammal. In order to make the point that minks are semi-aquatic mammals more convincing, we provide evidence at the micro (genome)-level. In particular, we used the genomes of the American mink and 13 mammalian species to reconstruct their evolutionary history, identified genes that affect aquatic adaptation, and examined the evolution of aquatic adaptation. By analyzing unique gene families, the expansion and contraction of gene families, and positive selection genes, we found that the American mink

SUBMITTER: Wang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9494948 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature