Pseudois nayaur szechuanensis Genome sequencing

The Chinese Bharal (Pseudois nayaur szechuanensis, PNS) show superb ecological adaptation to their extreme hostile environment and have become emblematic of the threat posed by global climate change to biodiversity. Phylogenetic relationship derived by comparing nuclear DNA markers show PNS and Pseudois nayaur nayaur (Himalayan/Tibetan Bharal, PNN) as different subspecies. However, limited genomic evidences conflict in the timing of PNS origin as well as its positioning in the PNN lineage. Virtual sequencing of the PNS genome via excavating bharal elite germplasm resources, molecular breeding, and functional genomics would facilitate to uncover basic principles underlying the molecular ecology pertaining to ruminants in extreme environments.