Ancient fish lineages place innate immune receptors into the broader context of vertebrate molecular evolution

Polypteriformes are the earliest diverging ray-finned fishes. The early divergence of this lineage offers critical context concerning the early evolution of innate immune receptors and other gene families for half of all living vertebrates. To augment genomic resources for this clade, kidney, intestine, and spleens from two Polypterus senegalus were dissected and RNA from each tissue type was extracted (Trizol, Life Technologies). Equal amounts of RNA were pooled together prior to NGS library prep.