Genome sequencing and analysis of the Tasmanian devil and its transmissible cancer

E.P. Murchison, O.B. Schulz-Trieglaff, Z. Ning, L.B. Alexandrov, M.J. Bauer, B. Fu, M. Hims, Z. Ding, S. Ivakhno, C. Stewart, B.L. Ng, W. Wong, B. Aken, S. White, A. Alsop, J. Becq, G.R. Bignell, R.K. Cheetham, W. Cheng, T.R. ConnorA.J. Cox, Z.-P. Feng, Y. Gu, R.J. Grocock, S.R. Harris, I. Khrebtukova, Z. Kingsbury, M. Kowarsky, A. Kreiss, S. Luo, J. Marshall, D.J. McBride, L. Murray, A.-M. Pearse, K. Raine, I. Rasolonjatovo, R. Shaw, P. Tedder, C. Tregidgo, A.J. Vilella, D.C. Wedge, G.M. Woods, N. Gormley, S. Humphray, G. Schroth, G. Smith, K. Hall, S.M.J. Searle, N.P. Carter, A.T. Papenfuss, P.A. Futreal, P.J. Campbell, F. Yang, D.R. Bentley, D.J. Evers, M.R. Stratton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), the largest marsupial carnivore, is endangered due to a transmissible facial cancer spread by direct transfer of living cancer cells through biting. Here we describe the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of the Tasmanian devil genome and whole-genome sequences for two geographically distant subclones of the cancer. Genomic analysis suggests that the cancer first arose from a female Tasmanian devil and that the clone has subsequently genetically diverged during its spread across Tasmania. The devil cancer genome contains more than 17,000 somatic base substitution mutations and bears the imprint of a distinct mutational process. Genotyping of somatic mutations in 104 geographically and temporally distributed Tasmanian devil tumors reveals the pattern of evolution and spread of this parasitic clonal lineage, with evidence of a selective sweep in one geographical area and persistence of parallel lineages in other populations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)780-791
Number of pages12
JournalCell
Volume148
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Feb 2012

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Manchester Cancer Research Centre

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