An international team of scientists has obtained the complete DNA sequence of an emblematic reptile, the saltwater crocodile or marine crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus ) .
Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have reduced costs between 1,000 and 10,000 times, while producing an equivalent increase in the speed at which an organism's "genetic letter" sequence can be obtained. full. "It took millions of dollars and several years of research to obtain the first sequence of a human genome in 2002; now we obtain the complete sequence of complex organisms by investing thousands of dollars and only a few months of work," explains Chris Moran, a researcher at the University. from Sydney (Australia) and co-author of the study.
Knowing the crocodile genome will have immediate applications. For example, until now, because they do not mature sexually until they are seven years of age, it was necessary to wait a long time to identify which of these captive reptiles could be destined for breeding. With genetic markers it can be determined from birth.
The sequencing of the new genome, released in the journal Genome Biology , will also allow us to understand the evolutionary relationships between members of the alligator and crocodilian family , as well as their relationship with other reptiles and with their closest living relatives, the birds.
