Chromosome-Level Analysis of the Genome Provides Insights to Its Immunity, Growth and Longevity.

The Asian giant soft-shelled turtle, (Trionychidae), is one of the largest aquatic turtles in China and was designated as a First-Grade Protected Animal in China in 1989. Previous investigation based on a combination of Illumina short-read, PacBio long-read and Hi-C scaffolding technologies acquired a high-quality chromosome-level genome of . In this study, comparative genomic analysis between and 16 other vertebrate genomes indicated that turtles separated from the ancestor of archosaurians approximately 256.6 (95% highest posterior density interval, 263.6-251.9) million years ago (Mya) (Upper Permian to Triassic) and that separated from the ancestor of and approximately 59.3 (95% highest posterior density interval, 64.3-54.3) Mya. Moreover, several candidate genes, such as , , and associated with tumor suppression, growth and age were expanded, implicating their potential roles in the exceptional longevity of turtles. This new chromosome-level assembly has important scientific value in the study of conservation of and also enriches the evolutionary investigation of turtle species.