Rabbit targeted genomic sequences after heterologous hybridization using human exome

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Animal Genetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Identifying causal mutations in major genes is crucial for understanding morphological traits.
• Genetic studies in non-model organisms are challenging due to limited molecular tools like SNP genotyping arrays.
• Genotyping-By-Sequencing (GBS) offers a viable alternative for genetic analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To target and identify major genes in rabbit populations using an exome-focused GBS approach.
• To leverage conserved mammalian protein-coding genes for exome capture in rabbits.
• To provide a valuable dataset for improving rabbit genome annotation and characterizing polymorphisms.

Main Methods:

• Employed a heterologous enrichment method to capture the rabbit exome using a human panel.
• Sequenced 52 French rabbits from five distinct strains (Californian, New-Zealand, Castor, Chinchilla, Laghmere).
• Generated 3.4 billion sequencing reads with high exome coverage (118-566X per sample).

Main Results:

• Successfully captured and sequenced the rabbit exome, generating a substantial dataset.
• Achieved high sequencing read counts and exome coverage across all samples.
• The generated data provides a foundation for further rabbit genetic research.

Conclusions:

• The exome-focused GBS approach is effective for identifying major genes in rabbit populations.
• The dataset is valuable for enhancing the Oryctolagus cuniculus (OryCun2.0) genome annotation.
• This study contributes to characterizing rabbit polymorphisms and evaluating genetic biodiversity.