Tuatara genome reveals diverse insights into a remarkable reptile

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"A once-species-rich order of reptiles called the Rhynchocephalia lived across the globe during the time of the dinosaurs. Just one of these species survives today: the tuatara. Found only in New Zealand, tuatara are a taonga (‘special treasure’) for Maori people. The reptiles have a set of intriguing traits — including longevity and an unusual combination of bird- and reptile-like morphological features — that have led to uncertainty over their place in the evolutionary tree. ... The work is a collaboration between genomicists and Ngātiwai, the Maori iwi (people) who have guardianship over the tuatara populations used in this study. ... it is not possible to produce a high-quality genome sequence without access to good genetic material. The researchers obtained this only through collaboration. Ngātiwai were involved in all decision-making processes for this study, and are commendably listed as the paper’s last authors [but listed only as the "Ngatiwai Trust Board"]. ...
The genome ... is one of the largest vertebrate genomes published so far. At more than 5 gigabases, it is about 50% larger than the human genome. To complement the genome, the authors generated gene-expression profiles for tuatara blood and embryos. They also performed a preliminary analysis of active and inactive sections of the genome, and an in-depth analysis of repeated regions. ..."

"... Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the tuatara lineage diverged from that of snakes and lizards around 250 million years ago. This lineage also shows moderate rates of molecular evolution, with instances of punctuated evolution. ..."

Tuatara genome reveals diverse insights into a remarkable reptile The genome sequence of an unusual reptile called the tuatara sheds light on the species’ evolution and on conservation strategies. The work is a model of current best practice for collaborating with Indigenous communities.

Here is the link to the referenced paper:

The tuatara genome reveals ancient features of amniote evolution (open access)