title: Peregrine and saker falcon genome sequences provide insights into evolution of a predatory lifestyle.
abstract: As top predators, falcons possess unique morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations that allow them to be successful hunters: for example, the peregrine is renowned as the world's fastest animal. To examine the evolutionary basis of predatory adaptations, we sequenced the genomes of both the peregrine (Falco peregrinus) and saker falcon (Falco cherrug), and we present parallel, genome-wide evidence for evolutionary innovation and selection for a predatory lifestyle. The genomes, assembled using Illumina deep sequencing with greater than 100-fold coverage, are both approximately 1.2 Gb in length, with transcriptome-assisted prediction of approximately 16,200 genes for both species. Analysis of 8,424 orthologs in both falcons, chicken, zebra finch and turkey identified consistent evidence for genome-wide rapid evolution in these raptors. SNP-based inference showed contrasting recent demographic trajectories for the two falcons, and gene-based analysis highlighted falcon-specific evolutionary novelties for beak development and olfaction and specifically for homeostasis-related genes in the arid environment-adapted saker.
authors.affiliation: Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Xiangjiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Shengkai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Junyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Margit G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Peixiang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Haolong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Yuanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jinquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Pengwei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shengguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Changchang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Shukun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Zhaobao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Nick C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bruford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D016678:Genome; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018035:Receptors, Odorant