Abstract
Using next-generation sequencing technology alone, we have successfully generated and assembled a draft sequence of the
giant panda genome. The assembled contigs (2.25 gigabases (Gb)) cover approximately 94% of the whole genome, and the
remaining gaps (0.05 Gb) seem to contain carnivore-specific repeats and tandem repeats. Comparisons with the dog and
human showed that the panda genome has a lower divergence rate. The assessment of panda genes potentially underlying
some of its unique traits indicated that its bamboo diet might be more dependent on its gut microbiome than its own genetic
composition. We also identified more than 2.7 million heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the diploid genome.
Our data and analyses provide a foundation for promoting mammalian genetic research, and demonstrate the feasibility for
using next-generation sequencing technologies for accurate, cost-effective and rapid de novo assembly of large eukaryotic
genomes.
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