Abstract
Here we develop an argument in support of sequencing a garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) genome, and outline a plan to accomplish this. This snake is a common, widespread, nonvenomous North American species that has served as a model for diverse studies in evolutionary biology, physiology, genomics, behavior and coevolution. The anole lizard is currently the only genome sequence available for a non-avian reptile. Thus, the garter snake at this time would be the first available snake genome sequence and as such would provide much needed comparative representation of non-avian reptilian genomes, and would also allow critical new insights for vertebrate comparative genomic studies. We outline the major areas of discovery that the availability of the garter snake genome would enable, and describe a plan for whole-genome sequencing.
Highlights
We propose to sequence the 1.91 Gb genome of a garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis, Figure 1), a common, widespread, nonvenomous North American snake that has served as a model for diverse studies in evolutionary biology, physiology, genomics, behavior and coevolution
We propose to sequence the garter snake as the non-mammalian genome because of its key phylogenetic position and because it has been an important research focus for many disciplines, including physiology, evolutionary genetics, morphology, ecology, comparative genomics and life history evolution
Color pattern polymorphism, skeletal morphology, life history profiles, and antipredator behaviors of Thamnophis all stand as primary empirical examples of selective and genetic processes that lead to population level differences in traits [9,10,11,12,13,14]
Summary
We propose to sequence the 1.91 Gb genome of a garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis, Figure 1), a common, widespread, nonvenomous North American snake that has served as a model for diverse studies in evolutionary biology, physiology, genomics, behavior and coevolution. We propose to sequence the garter snake as the non-mammalian genome because of its key phylogenetic position and because it has been an important research focus for many disciplines, including physiology, evolutionary genetics, morphology, ecology, comparative genomics and life history evolution. In addition to providing muchneeded additional taxonomic coverage of the treeof-life for non-mammalian amniotes and vertebrates generally, a garter snake genome would provide crucial insight into many areas of biology, including: 1) the genetic basis of limblessness and axial patterning, 2) the genetic basis of highly variable coloration and integumentary patterning, 3)
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