Gibbon reference genome and diversity panel. Nomascus siki

The BCM-HGSC is sequencing and analysing the genome of the Northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys). The gibbon is a small ape, a member of the superfamily Hominiodae that includes humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Gibbons are estimated to have diverged from the lineage leading to humans approximately 18 to 20 million years ago. In contrast to these other primate genomes, the gibbon has undergone many chromosomal rearrangements. The genome sequencing project will provide important information about these rearrangements and other processes that shaped hominoid genome evolution. The Gibbon Genome Sequencing Consortium is a collaboration between the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center, the Genome Institute at Washington University, and Lucia Carbone of Oregon Health & Science University. The goal of the project is to produce a high quality draft genome assembly of the Northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) from Sanger sequencing data from clones of different sizes, including small insert plasmids, BACs, and fosmids. Nleu_1.0 is a draft genome assembly produced from the Sanger sequencing data using the Arachne assembler. In addition, comparative sequencing of individuals from the 4 genera of gibbons (Nomascus, Hylobates, Symphalangus, Hoolock) will provide information about the genomic diversity and the history of genetic differentiation among these endangered animals. The project is funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute(NHGRI).