Parus major Genome sequencing and assembly

Seasonal timing is a key life-history trait with major fitness consequences. The small songbird Parus major (great tit) for decades has been a model to study fitness traits like e.g. avian timing of reproduction. The research is closely linked to the impact of global climate change on timing and its consequences. Linking quantitative genetic variation in life-history traits with polymorphisms in specific genes is essential for better understanding the causes and consequences of the diversity in these traits. Genetic variation in life-history traits in wild songbirds has been demonstrated in many, often long-term, studies throughout the world. Linking this variation to genomic information requires the development of the necessary genomics tools specifically aimed at these non-model species. The assembly and annotation of the genome of the great tit will greatly enhance the further use of the great tit as a model species in this research field.季节性时间节律是影响个体适合度的关键生活史性状。数十年来，小型鸣禽大山雀（Parus major）一直是研究鸟类繁殖时间等适合度相关性状的模式物种，相关研究紧密关联全球气候变化对时间节律的影响及其后续效应。将生活史性状的数量遗传变异与特定基因的多态性关联起来，是深入理解这些性状多样性的成因与效应的核心前提。全球范围内诸多长期研究均已证实野生鸣禽的生活史性状存在遗传变异，而要将这类变异与基因组信息建立关联，则需针对这些非模式物种开发专属的基因组学研究工具。大山雀基因组的组装与注释工作，将极大推动其作为该研究领域模式物种的后续应用。