Genomic Biology of Limb and Gonad Development in the Spanish Mole (Talpa occidentalis)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stefan Mundlos
• Subject Area: Human Genetics ; General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: from 2016 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 282307777

• Final Report Year: 2021

Final Report Abstract

In summary, we were able to generate a rich dataset not only of genomic sequence but also regulatory elements for this species, enabling us to identify genomic changes linked to variations in sexual development. Furthermore, we produced transgenic mice to test and verify the effect of the genoic changes observed. We expect that similar approaches will be instrumental in unraveling the evolutionary basis of other traits and phenotypic variations across the entire animal kingdom. This work was published in "Science".

Publications

• The mole genome reveals reveals regulatory rearrangements associated with adaptive intersexuality. Science. 2020 Oct 9;370(6513):208-214
  F. Martinez et al.
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz2582)