Chromosome-level genome of the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) and its genome-wide population structure across Western Europe
Most dramatically, the genomes of individuals used as founders for conservation breeding programs show exceptionally long runs of homozygosity, questioning its long-term suitability. This study confirms earlier concerns about the dramatically decreasing genetic diversity of the European hamster and provides a basis for future conservation efforts, which require consideration of population genetic factors.
Authors
- Tilman Schell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6431-6018)
- Tobias Erik Reiners (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6481-8109)
- Axel Janke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9394-1904)
- Alexander Ben Hamadou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9826-902X)
- David Prochotta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6275-7752)
- Marcel Nebenführ (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8802-2105)
- Carola Greve (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4993-1378)
- Carsten Nowak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3139-1951)
- Charlotte Gerheim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0763-4780)
- Juan-Manuel Ortega Guatame (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8231-6191)
Institutions
- Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M (DE)
- Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research (DE)
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (DE)
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Biology
- Published
- 2025-09-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02384-8
- Primary Topic
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum