【人民网英文版】Chinese scientists to decode DNA secrets of rare Tibetan antelope's survival on plateau

XINING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have successfully  assembled the chromosome-level genome of the rare Tibetan antelope,  aiming to decode the secrets behind their survival at high altitudes.

The publicity office of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)  confirmed with Xinhua on Friday that researchers from the Northwest  Institute of Plateau Biology under the CAS, and Qinghai University, both  based in Xining, capital of Qinghai Province in northwest China, have  made the achievement, which is currently the most accurate, complete  genome of the species available.

The Tibetan antelope plays a crucial role in biodiversity  conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. "So, this achievement not  only represents a technical upgrade in the field of Tibetan antelope  genetics research, but also provides an important genetic foundation for  the conservation of plateau biodiversity," said Zhang Tongzuo, a  researcher at the institute.

Zhang explained that the in-depth analysis of the Tibetan antelope  genome will help predict its survival ability under future climate  change scenarios, enabling more effective conservation measures to be  implemented.

It will also help identify the populations of the antelopes that  require special protection in order to maintain or increase genetic  diversity.

"It is of utmost importance for preventing and controlling the spread of diseases in wild populations," he said.

Additionally, the genome can be used to study the relationships  between different Tibetan antelope populations, which is crucial for  designing appropriate protected area boundaries and planning  cross-regional conservation efforts, according to Zhang.

Starting from 2022, the joint research team have conduced extensive  field surveys and monitoring of the antelopes and assembled their  chromosome-level genome through the 3rd-generation sequencing  technology.

The genome research of the Tibetan antelope also provides a fresh perspective on the conservation of plateau biodiversity.

From a genetic perspective, the Tibetan antelope genome data fills an  important gap in the study of the subfamily Caprinae species, offering  valuable resources to understand how highland species cope with extreme  environmental pressures.

"Through comparative analysis of the genomes of other Caprinae  species, such as the bharal and domestic sheep, we can trace the  evolutionary history of Tibetan antelope and reveal how it has  co-evolved with the highland environment over millions of years," said  Zhang.

"These findings not only deepen our understanding of the species  evolution mechanisms, but also provide references for further  exploration of the adaptability of other highland species," he said.

The Tibetan antelope, with its light tan fur, grayish-white face and  broad mouth, lives in Changtang National Nature Reserve in southwest  China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve in  Qinghai Province, and Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve in Xinjiang  Uygur Autonomous Region at altitudes ranging from 3,700 to 5,500  meters. The three regions are adjacent to one another.

The fine underfur of Tibetan antelopes was so sought after that  poaching in the 1980s and 1990s threatened the future of the species. In  1995, the population of the Tibetan antelope was reduced to only about  50,000 to 75,000.

The number of Tibetan antelope in Xizang has now increased to more  than 300,000, and their protection status has been downgraded from  "endangered" to "near threatened," according to data from region's  ecology and environment department.