Fugu: a compact vertebrate reference genome.
At 400 Mb, the Japanese pufferfish, Fugu rubripes, has the smallest vertebrate genome but has a similar gene repertoire to other vertebrates. Its genes are densely packed with short intergenic and intronic sequences devoid of repetitive elements. It likely has a mutational bias towards DNA elimination and is probably close to a 'minimal' vertebrate genome. As such it is a useful reference genome for gene discovery and gene validation in other vertebrates. Its usefulness in the discovery of conserved regulatory elements has already been demonstrated. The Fugu genome sequence is a good complement to genetic studies in other vertebrates.
Venkatesh
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B
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, National University of Singapore, 30 Medical Drive, 117609, Singapore.
Gilligan
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P
Brenner
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D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics*; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics*