A research team published a dataset of 363 genomes from approximately 92 percent of bird families and showed the significance of sampling dense organisms for biodiversity research. The study was jointly conducted by Chinese and international institutions and museums and was led by researchers from the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Total of 267 were newly published among the 363 sequenced genomes. They were mainly taken from samples of avian tissue kept in museums around the world, enabling researchers to sequence rare and endangered birds' genomes.
Its descendants have adapted to a wide variety of ecological niches since the first bird formed more than 150 million years ago, giving rise to small, hovering hummingbirds, plunge-diving pelicans and showy paradise birds. More than 10,000 bird species live on the planet today - and now scientists are well on their way to capturing a full genetic image of that diversity.
B10K is expanding its efforts to encompass the next stage of avian classification with 363 genomes complete. The team will sequence thousands of extra genomes in this process, attempting to represent each of the approximately 2,300 bird genera.
The genomic resource is expected to provide new insights on evolutionary processes in cross-species comparative studies and assist in efforts to protect species, according to the research findings reported as a cover story in the journal Nature.
