Small genome, big insights

摘要

The genome of a second pufferfish species has been sequenced. Why is this important? Because comparing this genome with that of other animals yields a wealth of information on genome evolution. It is still early days for the field of comparative genomics. Only around a dozen species of animal have so far had their complete DNA sequence determined, even to draft coverage. These are predominantly the widely studied model species, such as mice, fruitflies and nematode worms, or species of particular interest to humans, such as the malaria-carrying mosquito.