High upon the rugged Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the rare Tibetan antelope gracefully navigates some of the most extreme environments on Earth. Now, Chinese scientists are unlocking the secrets of its survival.
Chinese scientists have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully assembling the chromosome-level genome of the rare Tibetan antelope. This significant achievement aims to decode the secrets behind the antelope’s remarkable adaptation to high altitudes.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) confirmed that researchers from the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology under the CAS, and Qinghai University, both based in Xining, capital of Qinghai Province in northwest China, collaborated on this project. Their work has produced the most accurate and complete genome of the species available to date.
The Tibetan antelope plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. “This achievement not only represents a technical upgrade in the field of Tibetan antelope genetics research,” said Zhang Tongzuo, a researcher at the institute, “but also provides an important genetic foundation for the conservation of plateau biodiversity.”
Zhang explained that an in-depth analysis of the Tibetan antelope genome will help predict the species’ survival ability under future climate change scenarios. This will enable the implementation of more effective conservation measures.
Moreover, the genome mapping will assist in identifying populations of Tibetan antelopes that require special protection to maintain or increase genetic diversity. “It is of utmost importance for preventing and controlling the spread of diseases in wild populations,” Zhang added.
This pioneering research not only deepens the understanding of how the Tibetan antelope thrives in harsh high-altitude environments but also paves the way for enhanced conservation strategies to protect this emblematic species of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.
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Chinese scientists to decode DNA secrets of rare Tibetan antelope
cgtn.com
