Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 7, 2026

Expression of Fluorescent Proteins in Branchiostoma lanceolatum by mRNA Injection into Unfertilized Oocytes
Published on: January 12, 2015
Fugu: a compact vertebrate reference genome
B Venkatesh1, P Gilligan, S Brenner
1Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, National University of Singapore, 30 Medical Drive, 117609, Singapore.
Abstract:
At 400 Mb, the Japanese pufferfish, Fugu rubripes, has the smallest vertebrate genome but has a similar gene repertoire to other vertebrates. Its genes are densely packed with short intergenic and intronic sequences devoid of repetitive elements. It likely has a mutational bias towards DNA elimination and is probably close to a 'minimal' vertebrate genome. As such it is a useful reference genome for gene discovery and gene validation in other vertebrates. Its usefulness in the discovery of conserved regulatory elements has already been demonstrated. The Fugu genome sequence is a good complement to genetic studies in other vertebrates.
Related Concept Videos
Genomic DNA in Eukaryotes
Genomics
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
FISH - Fluorescent In-situ Hybridization
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

