Evolutionary signals of selection on cognition from the great tit genome and methylome

Laine, V. N. et al. (2016) Evolutionary signals of selection on cognition from the great tit genome and methylome. Nature Communications, 7, 10474. (doi: 10.1038/ncomms10474) (PMID:26805030) (PMCID:PMC4737754)

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Abstract

For over 50 years, the great tit (Parus major) has been a model species for research in evolutionary, ecological and behavioural research; in particular, learning and cognition have been intensively studied. Here, to provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms behind these important traits, we de novo assemble a great tit reference genome and whole-genome re-sequence another 29 individuals from across Europe. We show an overrepresentation of genes related to neuronal functions, learning and cognition in regions under positive selection, as well as increased CpG methylation in these regions. In addition, great tit neuronal non-CpG methylation patterns are very similar to those observed in mammals, suggesting a universal role in neuronal epigenetic regulation which can affect learning-, memory- and experience-induced plasticity. The high-quality great tit genome assembly will play an instrumental role in furthering the integration of ecological, evolutionary, behavioural and genomic approaches in this model species.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Nager, Dr Ruedi
Authors: Laine, V. N., Gossmann, T. I., Schachtschneider, K. M., Garroway, C. J., Madsen, O., Verhoeven, K. J. F., de Jager, V., Megens, H.-J., Warren, W. C., Minx, P., Crooijmans, R. P. M. A., Corcoran, P., Adriaensen, F., Belda, E., Bushuev, A., Cichon, M., Charmantier, A., Dingemanse, N., Doligez, B., Eeva, T., Erikstad, K. E., Fedorov, S., Hau, M., Hille, S., Hinde, C., Kempenaers, B., Kerimov, A., Krist, M., Mand, R., Matthysen, E., Nager, R., Norte, C., Orell, M., Richner, H., Slagsvold, T., Tilgar, V., Tinbergen, J., Torok, J., Tschirren, B., Yuta, T., Sheldon, B. C., Slate, J., Zeng, K., van Oers, K., Visser, M. E., and Groenen, M. A. M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Nature Communications
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:2041-1723
ISSN (Online):2041-1723
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in Nature Communications 7:10474
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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