The common marmoset genome provides insight into primate biology and evolution

Abstract

A first analysis of the genome sequence of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), assembled using traditional Sanger methods and Ensembl annotation, has permitted genomic comparison with apes and that old world monkeys and the identification of specific molecular features a rapid reproductive capacity partly due to may contribute to the unique biology of diminutive The common marmoset has prevalence of this dizygotic primate. twins. Remarkably, these twins share placental circulation and exchange hematopoietic stem cells in utero, resulting in adults that are hematopoietic chimeras. We observed positive selection or non-synonymous substitutions for genes encoding growth hormone / insulin-like growth factor (growth pathways), respiratory complex I (metabolic pathways), immunobiology, and proteases (reproductive and immunity pathways). In addition, both protein-coding and microRNA genes related to reproduction exhibit rapid sequence evolution. This New World monkey genome sequence enables significantly increased power for comparative analyses among available primate genomes and facilitates biomedical research application.

Complex pitch perception mechanisms are shared by humans and a New World monkey

“…It was suggested, for example, that chinchillas, unlike humans, may rely solely on temporal envelope cues for perceiving periodicity (2). Rodents share a common ancestor with primates ∼90 million y ago, whereas the separation of New World and Old World monkeys occurred only about 40 million y ago (6). Importantly, evidence from behavioral studies in a New World primate, the common marmoset (8), and physiological studies in Old World monkeys (7) suggests that both of these primate groups at least share similar peripheral frequency resolution with humans.…”

“…Recent data from two macaque monkey species, representing Old World primates, and the marmoset, a highly vocal New World primate species separated from humans by about 40 million y ago (6) and phylogenetically located roughly between macaques and other nonprimate mammals tested in pitch studies, have begun to cast doubt on whether these pitch perception mechanisms are unique to humans. Both physiology data from the macaque monkey (7) and behavioral data from marmosets (8) suggest that these primate species may exhibit frequency resolution at the auditory periphery similar to that seen in humans.…”

High fat diet decreases beneficial effects of estrogen on serotonin-related gene expression in marmosets

“…Despite a divergence time of 25 million years between the Old World and New World monkeys, the primers amplified excellently in Callithrix jaccus . In evolutionary terms, positive selection occurred after divergence in select pathways of marmosets largely relating to twinning and body size, which did not include the genes in this study (Marmoset Genome et al, 2014). …”

Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Receptor Homologs in New World Monkey Cytomegaloviruses

“…Figure 1B plots the different domains of the seven CMV proteins and the percent amino acid sequence identity for each domain compared to the available protein sequence of the primate evolutionarily closest to the CMV host. It should be noted that we currently have SLAMF protein sequences for only two NW monkeys, the genomes of which have been sequenced: Saimiri boliviensis (Bolivian squirrel monkey) and Callithrix jacchus (marmoset) (35). S1, the product of the first ORF of SMCMV (Fig.…”