Demystified: Genome Atlas of King Crab

Scientists successfully obtained high-quality king crab genome map

Photo courtesy of King Crab Tang Boping

King crab genome chromosome map courtesy of Tang Boping

The evolutionary relationship between king crabs and other pan-crustaceans Photo courtesy of Tang Boping

Recently, "Molecular Ecological Resources" published the first high-quality genome map of the crooked-tailed crab, which is the genome of an important economic crab, the blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus).

Due to the important economic value of king crabs, high reproduction rate, unique body structure and strong deep-sea adaptability, as well as a special systematic position in crab evolution, it has long been the focus of academic attention and many problems The research urgently needs to be carried out at the genome level.

Tang Boping introduced that real short-tailed crabs such as king crabs and swimming crabs are different and belong to the crooked-tailed crabs.

The blue king crab genome published by the team is currently the largest in crabs, with a size of 4.

The research team also specifically explored the reasons for the formation of such a huge genome of the king crab.

Based on published genome-wide data, a systematic evolutionary study of pan-crustaceans (crustaceans and insects) has shown that crooked-tailed crabs (king crabs) and short-tailed crabs (river crabs and swimming crabs) are closely related, and their differentiation period This is the late Permian period 270 million years ago.

　　Studies have shown that the king crab population has experienced a very obvious population decline and population expansion process in history.

　　The deciphering of the high-quality king crab genome chromosome map will greatly promote the basic research of crustaceans and the development of crab breeding, breeding, and disease prevention and control.