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This galley proof is being listed electronically before publishing the final manuscript (It's not final version).

 
Perspectives provided by the leopard and other cat genomes: how diet determined the evolutionary history of carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores
Soonok Kim1, Yun Sung Cho2,3, Jong Bhak2,3, Stephen J. O’Brian4,5, Joo-Hong Yeo1,*
1Biological and Genetic Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea,
2The Genomics Institute and 3Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea,
4Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia,
5Oceanographic Center 8000 N. Ocean Drive, Nova Southeastern University Ft Lauderdale, Florida 33004 USA
Abstract
Recent advances in genome sequencing technologies enabled humans produce and investigate wild species genomes. This included a very large family of cats such as tiger, lion, and leopard. We have performed an in-depth comparative analysis to identify the genomic signatures in the evolution of felid to become the top carnivore predators on land. Our focus was on how carnivore genomes, compared to omnivore or herbivore, shared evolutionary adaptations in genes associated with nutrient metabolism, muscle strength, agility, and other traits responsible for hunting and meat digestion. We found genetic evidence of genomes represent what animals eat through modifying genes. There were highly conserved such genetically relevant regions at the genomes of cat family level. Also, felid family genomes showed a low level of genetic diversity associated with decreased population sizes, presumably because of their strict diet, suggesting their vulnerability and critical conservation status. Our findings can not only be used for animal studies but they can be used for human health enhancement as we share the same genes as the cats, but with some variation. This is an example how wild life genomes can be a critical resource for human evolution providing key genetic marker information for disease treatment.
Abstract, Accepted Manuscript(in press) [Submitted on January 2, 2017, Accepted on January 2, 2017]
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