Biology Faculty Articles

Minke Whale Genome and Aquatic Adaptation in Cetaceans

ORCID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Nature Genetics

ISSN

1061-4036

Publication Date

1-2014

Abstract

The shift from terrestrial to aquatic life by whales was a substantial evolutionary event. Here we report the whole-genome sequencing and de novo assembly of the minke whale genome, as well as the whole-genome sequences of three minke whales, a fin whale, a bottlenose dolphin and a finless porpoise. Our comparative genomic analysis identified an expansion in the whale lineage of gene families associated with stress-responsive proteins and anaerobic metabolism, whereas gene families related to body hair and sensory receptors were contracted. Our analysis also identified whale-specific mutations in genes encoding antioxidants and enzymes controlling blood pressure and salt concentration. Overall the whale-genome sequences exhibited distinct features that are associated with the physiological and morphological changes needed for life in an aquatic environment, marked by resistance to physiological stresses caused by a lack of oxygen, increased amounts of reactive oxygen species and high salt levels.

Volume

46

Issue

1

First Page

88

Last Page

92

Comments

©2014 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.

Additional Comments

Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology program #: PE98993, Industrial Strategic Technology Development Program #: 10040231; Russian Ministry of Science grant #: 11.G34.31.0068; GenBank accession #: ATDI01000000

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