The geographic origin and migration of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) remain subjects of considerable debate. In this study, we sequenced whole genomes of 110 wild brown rats with a diverse world-wide representation. We reveal that brown rats migrated out of southern East Asia, rather than northern Asia as formerly suggested, into the Middle East and then to Europe and Africa, thousands of years ago. Comparison of genomes from different geographical populations reveals that many genes involved in the immune system experienced positive selection in the wild brown rat.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msx276 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
brown rat
12
southern east
8
east asia
8
wild brown
8
brown rats
8
brown
5
asia brown
4
rat revealed
4
revealed large-scale
4
large-scale genome
4
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!