Yuan Hao, Xu Duo, Xu Guiping, Yang Guang
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Utilization in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River Basin, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 511458, China.
BMC Genomics. 2025 Sep 2;26(1):795. doi: 10.1186/s12864-025-12022-w.
Understanding the genetic basis of long-distance migration in mammals provides important insights into the evolutionary mechanisms that enable species to adapt to changing environments. Despite its ecological significance, the molecular factors underlying this complex trait remain poorly understood.
Our analyses reveal distinct evolutionary signatures associated with long-distance migration in mammals. Through comparative genomics analyses of representative mammalian genomes, we identified multiple genes under positive selection, exhibiting accelerated evolutionary rates, or showing significant correlation with long-distance migration. These genes are predominantly involved in functions related to memory, sensory perception, and locomotor abilities. Additionally, evidence of convergent evolution was detected in genes associated with key biological processes such as energy metabolism, genomic stability, and stress response.
Our findings reveal novel molecular signatures linked to long-distance migration in mammals, shedding light on the evolutionary adaptations that support this behavior. This study enhances understanding of how genetic changes contribute to complex migratory traits and offers a foundation for future research on mammalian adaptation to environmental challenges.
了解哺乳动物长距离迁徙的遗传基础，有助于深入洞察使物种能够适应不断变化环境的进化机制。尽管其具有生态意义，但这种复杂性状背后的分子因素仍知之甚少。
我们的分析揭示了与哺乳动物长距离迁徙相关的独特进化特征。通过对代表性哺乳动物基因组进行比较基因组学分析，我们鉴定出多个处于正选择下的基因，这些基因呈现出加速的进化速率，或者与长距离迁徙存在显著相关性。这些基因主要涉及与记忆、感官感知和运动能力相关的功能。此外，在与能量代谢、基因组稳定性和应激反应等关键生物学过程相关的基因中检测到趋同进化的证据。
我们的研究结果揭示了与哺乳动物长距离迁徙相关的新分子特征，为支持这种行为的进化适应提供了线索。这项研究增进了我们对基因变化如何促成复杂迁徙性状的理解，并为未来关于哺乳动物适应环境挑战的研究奠定了基础。
