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Researchers just map and published the genomes of 51 fauna species , from Pisces - rust crocodile known as gharials ( Gavialis gangeticus ) to fierce cloud leopards ( Neofelis nebulosa ) . These genetic blueprint could have broad deduction for humans , peculiarly for understanding our evolutionary account , according to a newspaper bring out Jan. 26 in the journalNature Biotechnology .
" In some ways , we ’re building an evolutionary time machine , " study co - authorMichael Schatz , a Bloomberg imposing professor of computer science and biology at Johns Hopkins University , said ina statement . " cause the gene of our evolutionary cousins mapped out will help us better read ourselves . "
All mammals share a uncouth ancestor , which many scientist consider to beMorganucodon , a tiny , shrewmouse - like creature that know more than 200 million years ago — thoughsome say otherwise . In any lawsuit , this shared ascendant means that a magnanimous chunk of our hereditary makeup resemble those of other mammals , particularly chimpanzee , which share up to 99 % of our DNA . By liken the DNA of humans and other animals , researchers can get word when and how humans diverged from other species .
But a exclusive vertebrate genome can be billion of reference long and researchers must use dissimilar tools to break this genetic textile into glob before piecing it into a full picture . As a result , single-valued function genomes has historically been a painstaking unconscious process : begin in 1990 , it took researchers 13 twelvemonth to make the first genic blueprint for human beings .
However , DNA map technology for different species has pull ahead rapidly in the preceding few decades , and this new project marks another step , cut the sequencing time from years and months to just Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
To do this , the squad used inquiry from two project : the Vertebrate Genomes Project and the European Reference Genome Atlas . From these they develop algorithms and computer computer software to tack short genetic segments into a full genetic map , and eventually tested how well their workflow reproduced the complete genome of a zebra finch ( Taeniopygia guttata ) , which had been previously published .
The team found that their new technology was more effectual than live feeler at reassembling segments of the genome and make an accurate mapping . Their software is open - generator and available online viaGalaxy , a gratis , web - found weapons platform based at Johns Hopkins and Pennsylvania State University .
" I recall my first thought was , wow , they in reality made this work,“Elinor Karlsson , conductor of the Vertebrate Genomics Group at the Broad Institute and a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School who was not necessitate in the subject area , told Live Science . " It ’s really coolheaded to actually see not only that they managed to come up with a system that seems to work well on pretty divers mintage , but they ’ve done it on a platform that is so committed to open skill and sharing work flow . "
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For this paper , the researchers focused only on vertebrates , and other animal , industrial plant or fungal species might have " something typical or alone about their genome , " which mean " some of the process that are in this pipeline are n’t going to work as well in that species , " Karlsson say .
But this could be fixed " by modifying a few parameters " in their proficiency , according to the paper . The researchers ' goal is to sequence the genome of at least one species across all 275 vertebrate orders .
