Comparative genomics reveals convergent evolution between the bamboo-eating giant and red pandas

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 114; no. 5; pp. 1081 - 1086
• Main Authors: Hu, Yibo, Wu, Qi, Ma, Shuai, Ma, Tianxiao, Shan, Lei, Wang, Xiao, Nie, Yonggang, Ning, Zemin, Yan, Li, Xiu, Yunfang, Wei, Fuwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 31.01.2017
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Ailuridae - classification; Ailuridae - genetics; Ailuropoda melanoleuca; Ailurus fulgens; Amino acids; Animals; Bamboo; Bambusa - chemistry; Biological Evolution; Biological Sciences; Carnivora; Comparative analysis; Diet; Digestion - genetics; Evolution; Feeding Behavior; Genome; Genomics; Herbivory - genetics; Mammals - classification; Mammals - genetics; Pandas; Phenotype; Phylogeny; Pseudogenes; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - genetics; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Species Specificity; Taste Buds; Toes - anatomy & histology; Toes - physiology; Ursidae - classification; Ursidae - genetics; Vitamins; pseudogenization; positive selection; phenotype convergence; amino acid convergence; de novo genome

Phenotypic convergence between distantly related taxa often mirrors adaptation to similar selective pressures and may be driven by genetic convergence. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and red panda (Ailurus fulgens) belong to different families in the order Carnivora, but both have evolved...