Novel Megaptera novaeangliae (Humpback whale) reference genome.

The sequencing of a kidney sample (KW2013002) from a stranded Megaptera novaeangliae (Humpback whale) calf is the first full reference genome for this species. The calf, a 457 cm and 2,500 lbs male, was found stranded in Hawai'i Kai, HI, in 2013 and was marked as abandoned/orphaned. In 2023, 1g of KW2013002 was sequenced by Cantata Bio. The study utilized PacBio long-read DNA sequencing, chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C), RNA sequencing, and mitochondrial sequencing to comprehensively characterize the genome and transcriptome of M. novaeangliae. In addition to the de novo assembly and annotation of the genome, population genomic analyses, including pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescent (PSMC) analysis, synteny analysis, and mitochondrial sequencing, were performed to gain insights into the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of M. novaeangliae. Furthermore, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the sequenced data, providing a valuable resource for future studies on the genetics, evolution, and conservation of humpback whales.