Genomic distinctions of Svalbard reindeer
Our team, led by Dr. Nic Dussex, has completed a new study revealing how the Svalbard reindeer have genetically adapted to survive the harsh Arctic conditions they inhabit. By comparing its genome to those of closely related Russian populations, we uncovered evolutionary changes like unique gene variants in metabolism and immune function that differentiate the Svalbard reindeer from all others.
Link to the paper in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution: The genomic basis of the Svalbard reindeer’s adaptation to an extreme Arctic environment https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf160
Studying adaptation to extreme climates is essential for understanding evolutionary processes and how species evolve and persist under changing environmental conditions, such as climate warming. Here, we investigate the genomic basis of adaptations in the Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), an endemic subspecies that colonised the High Arctic approximately 7,000 years ago and developed a suite of adaptations for survival under conditions of extreme cold, changes in day length, and resource scarcity. Applying scans of selection, functional analysis of coding region variation, and characterization of copy number variation across reindeer populations from Svalbard, mainland Norway, mainland Russia, and Novaya Zemlya, our comparative genomics approach identified 150 differentiated genomic regions in Svalbard reindeer relative to mainland reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). These genomic regions include genes linked to fat metabolism, energy conservation, cold tolerance, body size, fur morphology, and seasonal circadian rhythms. Our study highlights the advantages of using distinct approaches to uncover the genomic basis of adaptations and provides a path for future research into the evolution of species in similar environments.
