Desert mouse genome now available!

The desert mouse (Pseudomys desertor), is an endemic Australian rodent that was once widespread. The species is now extinct in Victoria and critically endangered in New South Wales, although it still remains common in other parts of the Australian arid zone and dry savanna in Queensland.

Pseudomys desertor Troughton, Desert mouse. Holotype specimen at the Australian Museum
Photo credit: Sally Cowan

DNA Zoo and the Oz Mammals Genomic Initiative, in collaboration with Museums Victoria, the University of Western Australia, and others, now announce the release of a chromosome-length genome assembly for this species, using Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing. This will provide a reference for future conservation genetics research.