RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS - Gene Arrangement and Adaptive Evolution in the Mitochondrial Genomes of Terrestrial Sesarmid Crabs Geosesarma faustum and Geosesarma penangensis

by Nyok-Sean Lau, Ka-Kei Sam, Amirrudin B. Ahmad, Khadijah-Ahmad Siti, Abdul Wahab Ahmad Zafir and Alexander Chong Shu-Chien

Dr. Nyok-Sean Lau, Dr. Ka-Kei Sam, Prof. Alexander Chong Shu-Chien and collaborators from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Amirrudin Ahmad, Siti Khadijah Ahmad and The Habitat Foundation, Ahmad Zafir AW published research titled “Gene arrangement and adaptive evolution in the mitochondrial genomes of terrestrial Sesarmid crabs Geosesarma faustum and Geosesarma penangensis” in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. This is the first publication of complete mitochondrial genomes for the genus Geosesarma, whose genomic and genetic resources have previously been unavailable. The study illustrated Geosesarma’s taxonomic position within Brachyura, gene arrangement, and adaptive evolution in the mitochondrial genes. Signatures of positive selection were detected in Geosesarma mitochondrial, which may be related to adaptation to energy requirements for colonization of terrestrial hill environment. Most importantly, the project yields genomic resources pivotal to the understanding of the biology of these endemic terrestrial crabs.


Link : https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.778570

CCB Ref.:  2022_RH_01_lns
Date :  05/01/2022