New gene segment discovery has potential against cancer, autoimmune disorders

by Adam Russell, Texas A&M University

COLLEGE STATION – A Texas

A&M AgriLife Research scientist is conducting a two-year genetic survey of a Texas songbird – the golden-cheeked warbler – which could determine its status on a federal endangered species list

Dr Giri Athrey, AgriLife Research avian geneticist, College Station, worked on the previous golden-cheeked warbler study in 2006-2009 and is conducting the survey which began May 24

The golden-cheeked warbler has been a species of conservation interest in Texas for a very long time, Athrey said They are the only neotropical warblers that breed and nest exclusively in Texas

The U S Fish and Wildlife Service, USFWS, is tasked with periodically reviewing evidence supporting the continued listing or delisting of this species Athrey’s proposal to conduct a genetic survey of the golden-cheeked warbler throughout its habitat in Central Texas was selected to generate data necessary for the next review

The two-year project is funded by the Department of Defense via the Army Corps of Engineers To conduct the study, Athrey and collaborators with the city of Austin will undertake a broadscaled genetic survey of the species using the latest genomics and bioinformatics approaches

“Along the way, we will also assemble the genome of this species, which will be the first endangered songbird in the mainland United States whose genome will be assembled,” he said “We will be conducting the analysis using the latest genomics approaches to assess the species’ recovery and generate knowledge