title: Gekko japonicus genome reveals evolution of adhesive toe pads and tail regeneration.
abstract: Reptiles are the most morphologically and physiologically diverse tetrapods, and have undergone 300 million years of adaptive evolution. Within the reptilian tetrapods, geckos possess several interesting features, including the ability to regenerate autotomized tails and to climb on smooth surfaces. Here we sequence the genome of Gekko japonicus (Schlegel's Japanese Gecko) and investigate genetic elements related to its physiology. We obtain a draft G. japonicus genome sequence of 2.55 Gb and annotated 22,487 genes. Comparative genomic analysis reveals specific gene family expansions or reductions that are associated with the formation of adhesive setae, nocturnal vision and tail regeneration, as well as the diversification of olfactory sensation. The obtained genomic data provide robust genetic evidence of adaptive evolution in reptiles.
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Longhai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Linfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Yingrui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Tianmei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Meiyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
authors.forename: Zujing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Yingjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Changlai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Yumin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Chengdu institute of biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.|James D. Watson Institute of Genome Sciences, Hangzhou 610041, China.
authors.forename: Huanming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: JS Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
authors.forename: Xiaosong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017821:Boidae / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016678:Genome; D008116:Lizards / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D055254:Night Vision / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D013623:Tail / Q000502:physiology*; D014034:Toes / Q000502:physiology*; D014426:Turtles / Q000235:genetics