The genome of 130 mammals was sequenced by a large international consortium and the data was analyzed together with 110 existing genomes to allow scientists to identify the important positions in the DNA. This report, published in Nature today will help advance research on human disease mutations and inform how best to protect endangered species.
In addition to the knowledge of the human genome, all these genomes, widely sampled across mammals, can be used to research how particular organisms respond to different conditions. Some otters, for example, have a thick, water-resistant shell, and some rodents, but not all, have adapted to hibernation. These animal traits will help us to understand human traits, such as metabolic diseases.
With climate change and more animal ecosystems being threatened by human activity, the protection of endangered species is becoming increasingly important. Scientists have historically researched several people in various populations of a species to understand the genetic variation that occurs in that species. This is important for understanding how particular species can be protected. In this study, animals on the Red List of Endangered Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature had fewer differences in their genomes, which is consistent with their endangered status.
Ref @ A comparative genomics multitool for scientific discovery and conservation https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2876-6
Data at http://zoonomiaproject.org/
