Mammalian phylogenomics comes of age

The relatively new field of phylogenomics is beginning to reveal the potential of genomic data for evolutionary studies. As the cost of whole genome sequencing falls, anticipation of complete genome sequences from divergent species, reflecting the major lineages of modern mammals, is no longer a distant dream. In this article, we describe how comparative genomic data from mammals is progressing to resolve long-standing phylogenetic controversies, to refine dogma on how chromosomes evolve and to guide annotation of human and other vertebrate genomes. The relatively new field of phylogenomics is beginning to reveal the potential of genomic data for evolutionary studies. As the cost of whole genome sequencing falls, anticipation of complete genome sequences from divergent species, reflecting the major lineages of modern mammals, is no longer a distant dream. In this article, we describe how comparative genomic data from mammals is progressing to resolve long-standing phylogenetic controversies, to refine dogma on how chromosomes evolve and to guide annotation of human and other vertebrate genomes. segments that are syntenic to two or more human chromosomes (the standard reference genome for Zoo-FISH experiments) found on a single chromosome in another species. For example, segments of human chromosome 3 and 21 are found on a single chromosome in most mammalian species examined to date. a South American marsupial order represented by only a single living species, Dromiciops australis, commonly known as the Monito del Monte or Colocolo. a group of species including an ancestor and all of its descendants. a superordinal group of placental mammals that includes elephants (Proboscidea), hyraxes (Hyracoidea) and manatees+dugongs (Sirenia). a group of species that includes an ancestor and some but not all of its descendants. a South American marsupial order that includes five extant species in a single family, Caenolestidae, commonly referred to as rat-opossums or shrew-opossums. a shared derived character supporting the monophyly of two or more taxa. the condition of two or more loci being located on the same chromosome. separation of a formerly contiguous taxon by a geographic or ecological barrier, resulting in the formation of two new taxa.