Comparative genomics reveals insights into avian genome evolution and adaptation
Authors: Zhang Guojie , Li Cai , Li Qiye , Li Bo , Larkin Denis M. , Lee Chul , Storz Jay F. , Antunes Agostinho , Greenwold Matthew J. , Meredith Robert W. , Ödeen Anders , Cui Jie , Zhou Qi , Xu Luohao , Pan Hailin , Wang Zongji , Jin Lijun , Zhang Pei , Hu Haofu , Yang Wei , Hu Jiang , Xiao Jin , Yang Zhikai , Liu Yang , Xie Qiaolin , Yu Hao , Lian Jinmin , Wen Ping , Zhang Fang , Li Hui , Zeng Yongli , Xiong Zijun , Liu Shiping , Zhou Long , Huang Zhiyong , An Na , Wang Jie , Zheng Qiumei , Xiong Yingqi , Wang Guangbiao , Wang Bo , Wang Jingjing , Fan Yu , da Fonseca Rute R. , Alfaro-Núñez Alonzo , Schubert Mikkel , Orlando Ludovic , Mourier Tobias , Howard Jason T. , Ganapathy Ganeshkumar , Pfenning Andreas , Whitney Osceola , Rivas Miriam V. , Hara Erina , Smith Julia , Farré Marta , Narayan Jitendra , Slavov Gancho , Romanov Michael N , Borges Rui , Machado João Paulo , Khan Imran , Springer Mark S. , Gatesy John , Hoffmann Federico G. , Opazo Juan C. , Håstad Olle , Sawyer Roger H. , Kim Heebal , Kim Kyu-Won , Kim Hyeon Jeong , Cho Seoae , Li Ning , Huang Yinhua , Bruford Michael W. , Zhan Xiangjiang , Dixon Andrew , Bertelsen Mads F. , Derryberry Elizabeth , Warren Wesley , Wilson Richard K , Li Shengbin , Ray David A. , Green Richard E. , O’Brien Stephen J. , Griffin Darren , Johnson Warren E. , Haussler David , Ryder Oliver A. , Willerslev Eske , Graves Gary R. , Alström Per , Fjeldså Jon , Mindell David P. , Edwards Scott V. , Braun Edward L. , Rahbek Carsten , Burt David W. , Houde Peter , Zhang Yong , Yang Huanming , Wang Jian ,   Avian Genome Consortium, Jarvis Erich D. , Gilbert M. Thomas P. , Wang Jun , Ye Chen , Liang Shaoguang , Yan Zengli , Zepeda M. Lisandra , Campos Paula F. , Velazquez Amhed Missael Vargas , Samaniego José Alfredo , Avila-Arcos María , Martin Michael D. , Barnett Ross , Ribeiro Angela M. , Mello Claudio V. , Lovell Peter V. , Almeida Daniela , Maldonado Emanuel , Pereira Joana , Sunagar Kartik , Philip Siby , Dominguez-Bello Maria Gloria , Bunce Michael , Lambert David , Brumfield Robb T. , Sheldon Frederick H. , Holmes Edward C. , Gardner Paul P. , Steeves Tammy E. , Stadler Peter F. , Burge Sarah W. , Lyons Eric , Smith Jacqueline , McCarthy Fiona , Pitel Frederique , Rhoads Douglas , Froman David P. 
Published: December 2014

Birds are the most species-rich class of tetrapod vertebrates and have wide relevance across many research fields. We explored bird macroevolution using full genomes from 48 avian species representing all major extant clades. The avian genome is principally characterized by its constrained size, which predominantly arose because of lineage-specific erosion of repetitive elements, large segmental deletions, and gene loss. Avian genomes furthermore show a remarkably high degree of evolutionary stasis at the levels of nucleotide sequence, gene synteny, and chromosomal structure. Despite this pattern of conservation, we detected many non-neutral evolutionary changes in protein-coding genes and noncoding regions. These analyses reveal that pan-avian genomic diversity covaries with adaptations to different lifestyles and convergent evolution of traits.