| | Monotremes (or egg-laying mammals), comprising the platypus and two echidna genera, are the most basal within living mammals. Their unique phylogenetic position has resulted in considerable interest in the monotremes and recently the complete platypus genome was sequenced, which made headlines all over the world. The avalanche of genomic information has allowed for the first time critical research into the molecular basis of monotreme biology and unprecedented insights into the evolution of mammals.
This special issue, arising from the Boden Research Conference, 'Beyond the Platypus Genome' (held in Victor Harbor, South Australia, in 2008 and organised by Frank Grützner, Jennifer Marshall Graves and Russell Jones) summarises the most recent research and new insights the platypus genome has given to mammalian evolution and all aspects of monotreme biology. Monotreme reproduction is extraordinary: from egg-laying, lactation and sperm bundle formation, through to multiple sex chromosomes, lack of genomic imprinting and the absence of key genes in sex determination and X-chromosome inactivation in other mammals. This special issue is introduced with two short articles on the remarkable scientific history of the discovery of monotremes and on the role of the platypus genome in comparative genomics of vertebrates. These are followed by overviews of the evolution of genomic imprinting and of sex chromosomes, while subsequent articles report new data on sex chromosome organisation, Y chromosome repeats, 'sex genes', sperm maturation and lactation.
In summary, this issue provides a rich source of up-to-date overviews, new ideas and new data for any scientist interested in comparative genomics, mammals and reproduction. | |
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