LER_WGS_1
Leucoraja erinacea genome sequencing project
The little skate, <i>Leucoraja erinacea</i>, is a member of the most primitive surviving clade of jawed vertebrates and provides unique insight into the origin and evolution of many fundamental vertebrate characteristics.  Chondrichthyans have a neural crest, jaws and teeth, an adaptive immune system and a pressurized circulatory system.  These characteristics have been exploited to promote significant understanding about human physiology, immunology stem cell and cancer biology, regeneration, pharmacology, toxicology and neurobiology.