You are hereAvianGenomes.org Introduction
AvianGenomes.org Introduction
Within the genomes of birds (click to browse the genome), there are similar numbers of protein coding genes as found in mammals. So far ~17,000 protein-coding genes have been found in zebra finch by the EnsEMBL pipeline (Warren et al[1]), and ~23,000 in chickens Hillier, L.W.et al 2004. The lower number in zebra finch means that many more will be discovered. There are ~23,000 protein-coding genes in humans (HGS Consortium, Nature 2004.) Despite this similarity in number of genes, the avian genome is approximately one third the size of the human genome. A key factor for this reduction in genome size is because birds contain only ~11% repetitive DNA compared to ~50% found in humans (Organ et al 2007.)
Like humans, specific species of birds contain many complex traits. These traits include cultural learning, vocal learning (a critical behavioral substrate for spoken language), relatively large brain to body sizes, tool use, mental “time travel”, and other traits once thought to be unique to humans or primates (Jarvis et al 2005; Emory and Clayton 2004.) The sequencing of avian genomes will make it possible to study the genomics of these complex traits. To date, two avian genomes have been sequenced (Hillier, L.W.et al 2004, Warren et al[1]), along with transcriptomes from 11 different species of birds (Wada et al 2006, Li et al 2007, Replogle et al 2008, Krushner et al (in press).) This avian genomes website was designed to take advantage of these avian genome and transcriptome sequences for comparative genome analyses.| |
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 (Click the image to go to the genome viewer.) |
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References
- 10562 reads
