Completing the Crocodilian Triumvirate: A Genome Draft for the Indian Gharial

鳄鱼（短吻鳄、大腹鳄和鳄鱼）是现存的主要爬行动物群体之一。因此，对鳄鱼基因组的结构和功能的基本掌握对于全面了解羊膜基因组的进化、结构和功能至关重要。此外，由于它们是鸟类的近亲，它们的基因组代表了最好的群体，研究人员可以通过它们获得鸟类基因组进化和功能的外部视角。该项目的目的是通过制作印度大鳄（Gavialis gangeticus； Gavialidae科）的基因组序列草图，促进对鳄鱼基因组的理解，并深入了解结羊膜动物谱系的进化。这一单一目标是国际鳄鱼基因组工作组（ICGWG）为三种具有代表性的鳄鱼生成基因组序列草图的更大协调努力的一个组成部分。联合项目产生的信息将扩大了解羊膜动物，特别是爬行动物和鸟类进化的机会，填补我们脊椎动物基因组样本空间的巨大空白，并为全球对羊膜生物感兴趣的研究人员提供资源。整个项目将为整个骑士团的所有三个现存谱系的代表产生大量的基因组资源。由于该项目涉及公众非常感兴趣的有魅力的巨型动物，因此该项目有可能非常引人注目。更重要的是，这一难得的机会为在羊膜动物系统发育中占据关键地位的古老（200多万年）和重要脊椎动物目的所有现存谱系建立关键资源，具有重大的科学价值。该项目将允许雷博士和其他研究人员提出假设，并发展和回答一些重要的问题，这些问题不仅对鳄鱼，而且对包括鸟类、哺乳动物和其他爬行动物在内的其他羊膜动物的基因组结构和功能的进化有重要的理解。更广泛的影响该研究将成为当地高中教师的焦点，通过整合到功能研究实验室，体验分子生物学和进化方面的最新研究。然后，教师将得到帮助，将获得的知识和经验融入到他们的教学实践中，以造福学生。此外，这些数据将由ICGWG的所有成员共享，他们都是各自机构的教育工作者。来自这个和其他两个基因组的数据将成为各种pi引入高中和本科课程的教育材料的基础。此外，ICGWG还制定了一项计划，通过一个链接与公众分享所有的数据分析，该网站是由鳄鱼咨询集团的肯特·弗利特运营的。这些努力将为进化和基因组学的一般方面提供信息，并突出鳄鱼这种公众广泛关注的生物。通过使用这些有魅力的巨型动物，公众对进化和基因组生物学的理解将得到加强。

Intellectual MeritCrocodylia (alligators, gharials, and crocodiles) is one of the major extant reptilian groups. As such, a basic grasp of the structure and function of crocodilian genomes is essential to developing a comprehensive understanding of genome evolution, structure, and function in amniotes. Furthermore, because they are the closest living relatives of birds, their genomes represent the best group through which investigators can gain an outside perspective on avian genome evolution and function. The aim of this project is to advance understanding of crocodilian genomes and gain insight into the evolution of nodal amniote lineages by producing a draft genome sequence for the Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus; Family Gavialidae). This single aim is one component of a larger coordinated effort by the International Crocodilian Genomes Working Group (ICGWG) to generate draft genome sequences for three representative crocodilians. The information generated by the combined projects will expand opportunities for understanding the evolution of amniotes, especially reptiles and birds, fill a large gap in our sample of vertebrate genome space, and provide resources for researchers interested in amniote biology across the globe. The overall project will generate substantial genomic resources for representatives of all three extant lineages of an entire Order. As the project concerns charismatic megafauna of great interest to the general public, the project has the potential to be very high profile. More importantly, this rare opportunity to build critical resources for all extant lineages of an ancient (200+ my) and important vertebrate Order occupying a critical position in amniote phylogeny has substantial scientific merit. The project will allow Dr. Ray and other researchers to generate hypotheses and to develop and answer questions important to understanding of the evolution of genome structure and function of not only crocodilians, but also of other amniotes including birds, mammals and other reptiles. Broader ImpactsThe research will serve as a focal point for local high school teachers to experience current research in molecular biology and evolution through integration into a functional research laboratory. The teachers will then be aided in incorporating the knowledge and experiences gained into their teaching practices for the benefit of their students. Furthermore, the data will be shared by all members of the ICGWG, all of whom are educators at their respective institutions. The data from this and the other two genomes will be the basis for educational materials introduced into high school and undergraduate classes by the various PIs. In addition, the ICGWG has developed a plan to share all analyses of the data with the public through a links to the popular Crocodilia.com website that is run by Kent Vliet of the Crocodilian Advisory Group. These efforts will inform general aspects of evolution and genomics and highlight crocodilians, organisms of broad public interest. Public understanding of evolution and genome biology will be enhanced through the use of these charismatic megafauna.