Big Steps Towards Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) Genomic Resources

A variety of methods and technologies are now available for development of genomic resources. However, most well characterized genomes are of laboratory models or domestic species, not wild taxa. We have utilized multiple approaches to develop genomic resources for a wild taxon, the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), often capitalizing on the close evolutionary relationship between bighorn sheep and domestic sheep (Ovis aries). To date we have cross amplified a set of over 240 microsatellites developed for domestic sheep and ordered them into the bighorn sheep linkage map (sex averaged distance 3,051 cM, estimated 84% coverage of the genome), characterized over 900 SNPs using the OvineSNP50 Beadchip, and assembled the first complete mitochondrial genome (16,463 nucleotides) for bighorn sheep by skimming a genomic sequencing library. In addition, we are developing additional SNPs using a restriction site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing approach and sequencing the complete nuclear genome using a next-generation platform. Genomic resources for bighorn sheep will enable study of the genetic architecture of ecologically important traits, such as horn size and timing of reproduction, and design of evolutionary sustainable management plans for the species. The development of genomic resources for wild taxa opens the door for conservation genomic studies, and through comparative study provides the opportunity to shed new light on the genomes of their close relatives, including domestic species.