Baboon genome sequencing project and diversity panel

The BCM-HGSC is sequencing and assembling the genome of the baboon (genus Papio). A high quality draft sequence of the reference genome has been produced from an olive baboon (Papio anubis), using read data produced by the Sanger, 454 and Illumina platforms. In addition to the deep sequence coverage of the reference olive baboon, BCM-HGSC has generated whole genome coverage from additional olive baboons, as well as individuals representing hamadryas (P. hamadryas), Guinea (P. papio), yellow (P. cynocephalus), chacma (P. ursinus), kinda (P. kindae) baboons and Gelada (Theropithecus gelada), an outgroup to Papio. Comparative analyses of these data are in progress and will result in a description of genomic diversity within and among species of the genus Papio and phylogenetic relative of baboons. BCM-HGSC has also sequenced the whole exomes from an additional 12 Kinda and 12 yellow baboons. Baboons are important both as a well-studied and diverse evolutionary radiation of Old World monkeys, and as laboratory primates commonly used in biomedical research. Although closely related, the species within this genus differ in social behavior, ecology, body size and other fundamental characteristics. In the laboratory, baboons are used as models of several human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, epilepsy, infectious disease and various aspects of basic neurobiology. The project is funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).