Genomic insight into the nocturnal adaptation of the black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is an ardeid bird successfully adapted to the nocturnal environment. Previous studies had indicated that the eyes of the night herons have evolved several specialized morphological traits favoring nocturnal vision. However, the molecular mechanisms of the nocturnal vision adaptation of night herons remained inattentions. In this study, the whole genome of N. nycticorax was sequenced and comparative analyses were performed on the vision-related and olfactory receptor (OR) genes to understand the molecular mechanisms of the visual and olfactory adaptation of night herons.

Results

The results indicated that a number of vision genes were under positive or relaxed selection in N. nycticorax, whereas a number of othe

SUBMITTER: Luo H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9531477 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature