Genomics provides insights into high‐altitude adaptation in plateau brown frog

Abstract Adaptation to high‐altitude environments has long been a significant topic in biology. The plateau brown frog ( Rana kukunoris ) occurs at high altitudes, while the Chinese brown frog ( Rana chensinensis ) inhabits low altitudes. These closely related species provide an ideal model for studying high‐altitude adaptation. Here, we present a de novo genome assembly of R. chensinensis (totaling 4.23 Gb, with a contig N50 of 2.34 Mb), along with genome resequencing data from 87 individuals sampled across China. Our results indicate that unique and expanded gene families in R. kukunoris are significantly enriched in immune regulation and oxygen‐related activities. Several immune‐related genes were identified to experience positive selection or rapid evolution in R. kukunoris , suggesting the potential significance of immune regulation in high‐altitude adaptation. Additionally, genomic scans suggest that two genes, EPAS1 and ARNT2 , which belong to the hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF) family, are under strong positive natural selection. Our study provides further insights into high‐altitude adaptation and offers genomic resources for future research.