![]() Understanding how species adapted to deserts will provide an important foundation for predicting future evolutionary responses to increasing temperatures, droughts and desertification in the cactus mouse and other species.įor decades, researchers have been intrigued by adaptation, or the process by which organisms become better fitted to their environments. Other strong candidate genes included receptors for bitter taste, suggesting a dietary shift towards chemically defended desert plants and insects, and a growth factor involved in lipid metabolism, potentially involved in prevention of dehydration. Functional annotations of candidate gene families and selective sweeps revealed a pervasive signature of selection at genes involved in the synthesis and degradation of proteins, consistent with the evolution of cellular mechanisms to cope with protein denaturation caused by thermal and hyperosmotic stress. We identified 16 gene families exhibiting significant contractions or expansions in the cactus mouse compared to 17 other Myodontine rodent genomes, and found 232 sites across the genome associated with selective sweeps. ![]() Using these data, we integrated comparative, population, and functional genomic approaches. To investigate the genomic basis of desert adaptation in cactus mice, we built a chromosome-level genome assembly and resequenced 26 additional cactus mouse genomes from two locations in southern California (USA). The cactus mouse ( Peromyscus eremicus) displays several adaptations to these conditions, including low metabolic rate, heat tolerance, and the ability to maintain homeostasis under extreme dehydration. In the hot deserts of North America, high temperatures and lack of water are conspicuous challenges for organisms living there. Organisms that live in deserts offer the opportunity to investigate how species adapt to environmental conditions that are lethal to most plants and animals.
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