Neotoma bryanti x Neotoma lepida trio-binned genomes

Woodrats (Neotoma spp.) provide a unique opportunity to study how herbivores respond to environmental change, as Neotoma bryanti and N. lepida independently achieved a major dietary feat in the aftermath of a natural climate change event: switching to the novel, toxic food source creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). To better understand the genetic mechanisms underlying this ability, we employed a trio binning sequencing approach with a N. bryanti x N. lepida F1 hybrid. The resulting phased, chromosome-level, highly complete haploid references enabled exploration of the genomic architecture of several gene families known to play key roles in the metabolism of naturally occurring toxic dietary compounds, shedding light on the potential mechanisms underlying dietary adaptation within this genus.