Host genomic convergence, rather than gut microbiome convergence, underlies the convergent evolution of subterranean adaptation in mammals

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) Vol. 44; no. 8; p. 116110
• Main Authors: Li, Kexin, Liu, Yixin, Zhang, Yehao, Fan, Zhenxin, Hu, Xiangxu, Lai, Xinlei, Wei, Fuwen, Hu, Yibo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 26.08.2025; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Animals; Biological Evolution; comparative genomics; comparative transcriptomics; convergent evolution; CP: Genomics; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - genetics; Genome; Genomics; gut microbiome; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins - genetics; Mammals - genetics; Phylogeny; subterranean mammal; Transcriptome; subterranean mammal; CP: Genomics; gut microbiome; convergent evolution; comparative genomics; comparative transcriptomics

Subterranean mammals exhibit diverse traits for underground life, making them ideal models for studying molecular mechanisms of adaptation and convergence in extreme environments. To investigate these processes at both the genomic and gut microbiome levels, we assemble a chromosome-level genome of t...