GNAS2009 Abstract #7 - Murchison, Elizabeth

Elizabeth P. Murchison

Cancer Genome Project, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA

There are three major groups of modern mammals, the monotreme, marsupial and eutherian mammals. Monotremes are egg-laying mammals represented by the platypus and echidna, and marsupials are pouched mammals represented by animals such as the opossum and kangaroo. Sequencing of the platypus and opossum genomes has provided new resources for monotreme and marsupial genetics. Furthermore, recent advances in sequencing technologies have led to genetic investigation of animals such as the echidna and Tasmanian devil. Gene annotation and nomenclature in monotremes and marsupials has presented particular challenges. I will discuss gene annotation and nomenclature in monotremes and marsupials, bringing up examples of HOX gene and immune gene clusters.