Genome analysis of the platypus reveals unique signatures of evolution.
We present a draft genome sequence of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus. This monotreme exhibits a fascinating combination of reptilian and mammalian characters. For example, platypuses have a coat of fur adapted to an aquatic lifestyle; platypus females lactate, yet lay eggs; and males are equipped with venom similar to that of reptiles. Analysis of the first monotreme genome aligned these features with genetic innovations. We find that reptile and platypus venom proteins have been co-opted independently from the same gene families; milk protein genes are conserved despite platypuses laying eggs; and immune gene family expansions are directly related to platypus biology. Expansions of protein, non-protein-coding RNA and microRNA families, as well as repeat elements, are identified. Sequencing of this genome now provides a valuable resource for deep mammalian comparative analyses, as well as for monotreme biology and conservation.
Warren
Wesley C
WC
Genome Sequencing Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8501, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, St Louis, Missouri 63108, USA. wwarren@wustl.edu
Hillier
LaDeana W
LW
Marshall Graves
Jennifer A
JA
Birney
Ewan
E
Ponting
Chris P
CP
Grützner
Frank
F
Belov
Katherine
K
Miller
Webb
W
Clarke
Laura
L
Chinwalla
Asif T
AT
Yang
Shiaw-Pyng
SP
Heger
Andreas
A
Locke
Devin P
DP
Miethke
Pat
P
Waters
Paul D
PD
Veyrunes
Frédéric
F
Fulton
Lucinda
L
Fulton
Bob
B
Graves
Tina
T
Wallis
John
J
Puente
Xose S
XS
López-Otín
Carlos
C
Ordóñez
Gonzalo R
GR
Eichler
Evan E
EE
Chen
Lin
L
Cheng
Ze
Z
Deakin
Janine E
JE
Alsop
Amber
A
Thompson
Katherine
K
Kirby
Patrick
P
Papenfuss
Anthony T
AT
Wakefield
Matthew J
MJ
Olender
Tsviya
T
Lancet
Doron
D
Huttley
Gavin A
GA
Smit
Arian F A
AF
Pask
Andrew
A
Temple-Smith
Peter
P
Batzer
Mark A
MA
Walker
Jerilyn A
JA
Konkel
Miriam K
MK
Harris
Robert S
RS
Whittington
Camilla M
CM
Wong
Emily S W
ES
Gemmell
Neil J
NJ
Buschiazzo
Emmanuel
E
Vargas Jentzsch
Iris M
IM
Merkel
Angelika
A
Schmitz
Juergen
J
Zemann
Anja
A
Churakov
Gennady
G
Kriegs
Jan Ole
JO
Brosius
Juergen
J
Murchison
Elizabeth P
EP
Sachidanandam
Ravi
R
Smith
Carly
C
Hannon
Gregory J
GJ
Tsend-Ayush
Enkhjargal
E
McMillan
Daniel
D
Attenborough
Rosalind
R
Rens
Willem
W
Ferguson-Smith
Malcolm
M
Lefèvre
Christophe M
CM
Sharp
Julie A
JA
Nicholas
Kevin R
KR
Ray
David A
DA
Kube
Michael
M
Reinhardt
Richard
R
Pringle
Thomas H
TH
Taylor
James
J
Jones
Russell C
RC
Nixon
Brett
B
Dacheux
Jean-Louis
JL
Niwa
Hitoshi
H
Sekita
Yoko
Y
Huang
Xiaoqiu
X
Stark
Alexander
A
Kheradpour
Pouya
P
Kellis
Manolis
M
Flicek
Paul
P
Chen
Yuan
Y
Webber
Caleb
C
Hardison
Ross
R
Nelson
Joanne
J
Hallsworth-Pepin
Kym
K
Delehaunty
Kim
K
Markovic
Chris
C
Minx
Pat
P
Feng
Yucheng
Y
Kremitzki
Colin
C
Mitreva
Makedonka
M
Glasscock
Jarret
J
Wylie
Todd
T
Wohldmann
Patricia
P
Thiru
Prathapan
P
Nhan
Michael N
MN
Pohl
Craig S
CS
Smith
Scott M
SM
Hou
Shunfeng
S
Nefedov
Mikhail
M
de Jong
Pieter J
PJ
Renfree
Marilyn B
MB
Mardis
Elaine R
ER
Wilson
Richard K
RK
D000818:Animals; D001482:Base Composition; D003817:Dentition; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D010987:Platypus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D012104:Reptiles / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D014688:Venoms / Q000235:genetics; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism
D035683:MicroRNAs; D008894:Milk Proteins; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D014688:Venoms