Comparative genomics reveals putative evidence for high-elevation adaptation in the American pika (Ochotona princeps).

ABSTRACT: High-elevation environments have lower atmospheric oxygen content, reduced temperatures, and higher levels of UV radiation than found at lower elevations. As such, species living at high elevations must overcome these challenges to survive, grow, and reproduce. American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are alpine lagomorphs that are habitat specialists typically found at elevations >2,000 m. Previous research has shown putative evidence for high-elevation adaptation; however, investigations to date have been limited to a fraction of the genome. Here, we took a comparative genomics approach to identify putative regions under selection using a chromosomal reference genome assembly for the American pika relative to 8 other mammalian species targeted based on phylogenetic relatedness and (dis)simi

SUBMITTER: Sjodin BMF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9635661 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature