#36 · Genomics

Non-model species genome assemblies paired with gene-level annotation and interpretation

The common thread is reference genome generation for non-model taxa, with each report presenting assembly completeness metrics alongside an annotated gene set. The Mozambique tilapia preprint reports a chromosome-level 1.09 Gb assembly from PacBio HiFi and Omni-C data with 27,544 protein-coding genes, and the white-faced plover is a chromosome-level 1.25 Gb assembly across 31 chromosomes with BUSCO 97.3%. The Gangetic dolphin draft (2.53 Gb, BUSCO 97.73%) reports 66 positively selected genes and a regressive evolution signature alongside an LGM-era population decline, while the Antarctic springtail draft (103.6 Mb, N50 3.4 Mb) adds glycoside hydrolase gene analysis. What is new is the pairing of assembly quality with gene-level functional interpretation across taxa, though the dominant thread is assembly and annotation rather than uniform functional analysis.