CROCODILIAN COMPARATIVE GENOMICS

Crocodilians (order Crocodylia) are an ancient group of reptiles of tremendous ecological, social, and evolutionary importance. They have been apex predators in warm-water lake, river, and coastal ecosystems for over 200 million years. In evolutionary terms, crocodilians are the only extant reptilian members of the archosaurs, a monophyletic group which also includes birds, dinosaurs, and pterosaurs. Consequently, crocodilian genomes represent a gateway through which the molecular evolution of avian (and ostensibly saurian and pterosaurian) lineages can be explored.

To facilitate comparative genomics within Crocodylia and between crocodilians and other archosaurs, we have constructed a 3X bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library for the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).  Macroarrays  representing the library have been generated and are currently being used to explore crocodile genome structure. We hope to compare the crocodile BAC library with an existing library for alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and with chicken and other bird genome sequences.  Our crocodilian research is being conducted in partnership with Dr. David Ray of West Virginia University.

Other Major Research Projects: Accelerating Pine Genomics (APG) | Sequencing the Genome of the Reniform Nematode | Engaging the Genome Sequence of Sorghum | Gymnosperm Comparative Genomics | Genetics of Aspergillus Resistance | Cotton Genomic Resource Development