An Industrial Doctorate project is promoting the conservation and genetic management of the red partridge by developing its complete pangenome. The PANPER project (Pangenoma de la Perdiu Roja), led by the Centre de Sanitat Avícola de Catalunya i Aragón ( CESAC ) and the University of Lleida (UdL), aims to finalize the creation of a reference genome for this species with more than 35 million years of evolution. This initiative is fundamental to defining the genetic heritage of the red partridge and may offer new perspectives in evolutionary biology and immunology, benefiting both the conservation of the species and research into human diseases.
Recently, the news portal 324.cat highlighted the importance of the genome of the red partridge, a bird considered close to dinosaurs due to its antiquity. It is known that this species already existed 35 million years ago, at which time it was genetically separated from the rooster and began to evolve as a distinct species. The news highlights the work of researchers at the UdL, who have managed to sequence the genome of this species . Its uniqueness makes it especially interesting from a scientific and medical point of view.
The professor of Animal Science at the UdL, Jesús Nadal, is convinced that sequencing the genome of the red partridge will be of great use in future research on human diseases linked to the immune system, such as cancer and those related to aging. The ability of this species to survive for millions of years suggests that it possesses an exceptionally strong and adaptive immune system. This makes it an ideal model for the study of human diseases linked to the immune system, such as cancer and those related to aging. In this line, two of the researchers who signed the study published in Scientific Reports , lead the academic part of the PANPER industrial doctoral project.
The PANPER project will analyse the genome of over 60 red partridges, from both wild and farmed populations, using advanced sequencing technologies such as Illumina's NovaSeq 6000 for short reads and Oxford Nanopore Technologies for long reads. Techniques such as Hi-C will also be used to obtain detailed information on chromosome structure.
The work plan is structured over three years. The first year will focus on the preparation and initial assembly of genomic data. The second year will be dedicated to the analysis of genetic diversity and introgression patterns to understand how different populations have genetically influenced each other. Finally, the third year will complete the pangenome and apply the results for the conservation and management of the species.
The preliminary results of this project have already allowed the sequencing of 96.9% of the red grouse genes, including RNA and protein coding, as published in the journal Scientific Reports of the Nature group. “ This research represents a significant advance towards the creation of a complete reference genome for this species ”, says the professor of Animal Science at the UdL, Jesús Nada l. “ This genomic resource becomes an invaluable tool for the identification, management, protection and conservation of the wild red grouse, facilitating the implementation of more precise and well-founded management measures. And it provides a solid basis for future research on the evolution and adaptation of the species, both in their natural habitats and in captivity ”.
In addition to the implications for the conservation of the species, the in-depth study of the red grouse genome may offer new perspectives in the field of evolutionary biology and immunology. According to Rui Alves , professor at the UdL and researcher at IRBLleida, “ our gene enrichment analysis suggests that the red grouse evolved a distinct set of regulatory genes and viral response proteins, probably shaped by species-specific infections and pressures .”
The PANPER project, part of the Industrial Doctorate Plan of the Generalitat de Catalunya, represents a close collaboration between the academic and business worlds to promote applied research and knowledge transfer. The creation of a complete pangenome of the red partridge will allow the genetic groups to be clearly identified and the process of classifying the different ecotypes to be initiated, an essential aspect for designing effective conservation and management strategies for both livestock farms and wild populations.
With initiatives such as the PANPER project, the Industrial Doctorate Plan reaffirms its commitment to the training of research talent and the promotion of projects that provide added value to society, combining scientific excellence with practical applications in ecological and medical benefits.
