Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens
Homotherium was a genus of large-bodied scimitar-toothed cats, morphologically distinct from any extant felid species, that went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene [1-4]. They possessed large, saber-form serrated canine teeth, powerful forelimbs, a sloping back, and an enlarged optic bulb, all of...
| Autores: | ; ; ; |
|---|---|
| Tipo de documento: | Artículo |
| Estado: | Published version |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2020 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Pompeu Fabra |
| Repositorio: | Repositorio Digital de la UPF |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:repositori.upf.edu:10230/45741 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10230/45741 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.051 |
| Nivel de acceso: | Acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Homotherium Adaptation Ancient DNA Comparative genomes Diversity Genomics Palaeogenome Paleogenome Phylogeny Selection |
| _version_ | 1878731048713453568 |
|---|---|
| author | Barnett, Ross |
| author2 | de Manuel, Marc Marquès i Bonet, Tomàs, 1975- Gilbert, M Thomas |
| author2_role | author author author |
| author_browse | Barnett, Ross Gilbert, M Thomas Marquès i Bonet, Tomàs, 1975- de Manuel, Marc |
| author_facet | Barnett, Ross de Manuel, Marc Marquès i Bonet, Tomàs, 1975- Gilbert, M Thomas |
| author_role | author |
| collection | Repositorio Digital de la UPF |
| description | Homotherium was a genus of large-bodied scimitar-toothed cats, morphologically distinct from any extant felid species, that went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene [1-4]. They possessed large, saber-form serrated canine teeth, powerful forelimbs, a sloping back, and an enlarged optic bulb, all of which were key characteristics for predation on Pleistocene megafauna [5]. Previous mitochondrial DNA phylogenies suggested that it was a highly divergent sister lineage to all extant cat species [6-8]. However, mitochondrial phylogenies can be misled by hybridization [9], incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), or sex-biased dispersal patterns [10], which might be especially relevant for Homotherium since widespread mito-nuclear discrepancies have been uncovered in modern cats [10]. To examine the evolutionary history of Homotherium, we generated a ∼7x nuclear genome and a ∼38x exome from H. latidens using shotgun and target-capture sequencing approaches. Phylogenetic analyses reveal Homotherium as highly divergent (∼22.5 Ma) from living cat species, with no detectable signs of gene flow. Comparative genomic analyses found signatures of positive selection in several genes, including those involved in vision, cognitive function, and energy consumption, putatively consistent with diurnal activity, well-developed social behavior, and cursorial hunting [5]. Finally, we uncover relatively high levels of genetic diversity, suggesting that Homotherium may have been more abundant than the limited fossil record suggests [3, 4, 11-14]. Our findings complement and extend previous inferences from both the fossil record and initial molecular studies, enhancing our understanding of the evolution and ecology of this remarkable lineage. |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| format | article |
| id | ES_27f74ef02aa87538371af2d01ddccc23 |
| institution | Universitat Pompeu Fabra |
| instname_str | Universitat Pompeu Fabra |
| network_acronym_str | ES |
| network_name_str | España |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:repositori.upf.edu:10230/45741 |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publishDateSort | 2020 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| reponame_str | Repositorio Digital de la UPF |
| spelling | Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens Barnett, Ross de Manuel, Marc Marquès i Bonet, Tomàs, 1975- Gilbert, M Thomas Homotherium Adaptation Ancient DNA Comparative genomes Diversity Genomics Palaeogenome Paleogenome Phylogeny Selection Homotherium was a genus of large-bodied scimitar-toothed cats, morphologically distinct from any extant felid species, that went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene [1-4]. They possessed large, saber-form serrated canine teeth, powerful forelimbs, a sloping back, and an enlarged optic bulb, all of which were key characteristics for predation on Pleistocene megafauna [5]. Previous mitochondrial DNA phylogenies suggested that it was a highly divergent sister lineage to all extant cat species [6-8]. However, mitochondrial phylogenies can be misled by hybridization [9], incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), or sex-biased dispersal patterns [10], which might be especially relevant for Homotherium since widespread mito-nuclear discrepancies have been uncovered in modern cats [10]. To examine the evolutionary history of Homotherium, we generated a ∼7x nuclear genome and a ∼38x exome from H. latidens using shotgun and target-capture sequencing approaches. Phylogenetic analyses reveal Homotherium as highly divergent (∼22.5 Ma) from living cat species, with no detectable signs of gene flow. Comparative genomic analyses found signatures of positive selection in several genes, including those involved in vision, cognitive function, and energy consumption, putatively consistent with diurnal activity, well-developed social behavior, and cursorial hunting [5]. Finally, we uncover relatively high levels of genetic diversity, suggesting that Homotherium may have been more abundant than the limited fossil record suggests [3, 4, 11-14]. Our findings complement and extend previous inferences from both the fossil record and initial molecular studies, enhancing our understanding of the evolution and ecology of this remarkable lineage. This project received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development, and Demonstration under grant agreement no. FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF-298820 and ERC Consolidator Award 681396-Extinction Genomics to M.T.P.G. Elsevier http://hdl.handle.net/10230/45741 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.051 |
| spellingShingle | Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens Barnett, Ross Homotherium Adaptation Ancient DNA Comparative genomes Diversity Genomics Palaeogenome Paleogenome Phylogeny Selection |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens |
| title_full | Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens |
| title_fullStr | Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens |
| title_short | Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens |
| title_sort | Genomic adaptations and evolutionary history of the extinct scimitar-toothed cat, Homotherium latidens |
| topic | Homotherium Adaptation Ancient DNA Comparative genomes Diversity Genomics Palaeogenome Paleogenome Phylogeny Selection |
| topic_facet | Homotherium Adaptation Ancient DNA Comparative genomes Diversity Genomics Palaeogenome Paleogenome Phylogeny Selection |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10230/45741 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.051 |