Royal Bengal tiger genome sequenced-The Hindu

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Royal Bengal tiger genome sequenced

Key Facts

• For the first time, the genome of the Royal Bengal tiger, an endangered big cat, has been sequenced as part of plans to generate a high-quality draft genome sequence of the animal.

• Although endangered and threatened by various extinction risks, this tiger subspecies is the most populous one with the highest genetic diversity and the strongest chance of survival in the wild.
• The high coverage genome sequencing and identification of genome variants in Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) were carried out by scientists from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) and a Hyderabad-based private company.
• This genome was compared with the genome of Amur or Siberian tiger. These two subspecies occur in diverse environments and the new data also reveals major variations between the two.
• While Amur tiger occurs exclusively in sub-temperate and snow-covered habitats, the Bengal tiger occupies diverse tropical habitats ranging from Himalayan foothills to Central India plateau and the Western Ghats.
• Genome data provides an insight into the genetic differences at individual level ranging from single nucleotide variations to large structural variants.
• It also provides a better understanding of how the gene variants play a role in adaptation to the environment and disease susceptibility.
• In other words, it will reveal the changes triggered in the genes due to the adaptability to different environments in the evolutionary time scale.
• The researchers claim that this is the first report on the discovery of copy number variants and large structural variants in the genome of a wild, endangered species.
• The identification of numerous Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) will help in gaining a better insight into population genetics and gene flow.
• Such studies will also help in improving conservation management as authorities attempting to relocate an endangered animal will have a better understanding of its adaptability to the new environment.
• Genome sequencing will help in precise understanding of the evolutionary linkage of the organism. Besides, epigenetic analysis becomes possible once the genome is available.