Chinese Researchers Sequence World's First Giant Panda Genome
Ruiqiang Li, Ph.D., Director of Bioinformatics Division of BGI, Shenzhen commented about the project: "The giant panda has a unique, evolutionary status in China and is considered a national treasure. Using solely Illumina's next-generation sequencing technology, we completed de novo sequencing of the giant panda genome, dramatically accelerating the process of decoding genetic information for this endangered species. Now, researchers around the globe can access new data that will help protect and monitor the giant panda."
The research team sequenced 80% of the giant panda genome, obtaining greater than 95% coverage in gene regions, and N50 contig size of approximately 300kb. Using paired reads averaging 75 base pairs each per run, 50x coverage of the genome was generated.
Most read news
Other news from the department science
Get the life science industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for biotechnology, pharma and life sciences brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.