Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly Published for Critically Endangered School Shark
Researchers have published the first chromosome-level, haplotype-phased reference genome assemblies for the school shark (Galeorhinus galeus), a species listed as Critically Endangered due to an 80% global population decline driven by fishing pressure. The study, appearing in Scientific Data, presents distinct assemblies for both male and female individuals. The 4.81 Gbp male genome was constructed using PacBio HiFi and Dovetail Omni-C sequencing data, while the 4.52 Gbp female genome utilized PacBio HiFi data scaffolded via homology to the male reference. Both assemblies demonstrate high quality, with over 92% BUSCO completeness and approximately 60–63% repeat content. Further analysis revealed a reciprocal relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism density and methylation levels across chromosomes. This genomic resource is intended to support future studies aimed at informing population management and conservation strategies for this vulnerable marine species. The research was conducted by an international team involving institutions such as the University of Western Australia, CSIRO, and the University of Tasmania, with funding support from the Minderoo Foundation and Australian government bodies.
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Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly Published for Critically Endangered School Shark
Researchers have published the first chromosome-level, haplotype-phased reference genome assemblies for the school shark (Galeorhinus galeus), a species listed as Critically Endangered due to an 80% global population decline driven by fishing pressure. The study, appearing in Scientific Data, presents distinct assemblies for both male and female individuals. The 4.81 Gbp male genome was constructed using PacBio HiFi and Dovetail Omni-C sequencing data, while the 4.52 Gbp female genome utilized PacBio HiFi data scaffolded via homology to the male reference. Both assemblies demonstrate high quality, with over 92% BUSCO completeness and approximately 60–63% repeat content. Further analysis revealed a reciprocal relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism density and methylation levels across chromosomes. This genomic resource is intended to support future studies aimed at informing population management and conservation strategies for this vulnerable marine species. The research was conducted by an international team involving institutions such as the University of Western Australia, CSIRO, and the University of Tasmania, with funding support from the Minderoo Foundation and Australian government bodies.
Scientific Data