Identifying the genomic changes that underlie phenotypic adaptations is a key challenge in
evolutionary biology and genomics. Loss of protein-coding genes is one type of genomic …

The skin is a multi-layered organ, often displaying associated structures, that establishes a
protective interface between the organism and the surrounding environment. In mammals …

The transition from land to water in whales and dolphins (cetaceans) was accompanied by
remarkable adaptations. To reveal genomic changes that occurred during this transition, we …

Vampire bats are the only mammals that feed exclusively on blood. To uncover genomic
changes associated with this dietary adaptation, we generated a haplotype-resolved …

Keratins are the main intermediate filament proteins of epithelial cells. In keratinocytes of the
mammalian epidermis they form a cytoskeleton that resists mechanical stress and thereby …

Cetacean skin continues to be the investigative focus of researchers from several different
scientific disciplines. Yet, most research on the basic functions of lipo‐keratinocytes, which …

Abstract Background Olfactory receptors (ORs) can bind odor molecules and play a crucial
role in odor sensation. Due to the frequent gains and losses of genes during evolution, the …

Background Multiple alignments of mammalian genomes have been the basis of many
comparative genomic studies aiming at annotating genes, detecting regions under …

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role for the innate immune system by detecting
pathogen-associated molecular patterns. TLR5 encodes the major extracellular receptor for …

Descent of testes from a position near the kidneys into the lower abdomen or into the
scrotum is an important developmental process that occurs in all placental mammals, with …