A near-complete quail genome identifies heterochromatin expansion and chromosome architecture remodeling.

A near-complete quail genome reveals 43% larger size, heterochromatin expansion, and chromosome architecture remodeling, highlighting unique avian genomic features.

• Why it matters: Understanding the genomic differences in Coturnix japonica helps clarify avian genome evolution, heterochromatin dynamics, and sex chromosome remodeling, filling a significant knowledge gap.
• What they did: Researchers assembled a 1.33 Gb chromosome-level genome, identifying extensive repeat accumulation, heterochromatin expansion, and conserved centromeric repeats through comparative and epigenomic analyses.
• The result: Findings demonstrate how transposable elements reshaped chromatin and chromosome interactions, with the W chromosome undergoing heterochromatinization and gene loss, advancing insights into avian genome evolution and heterochromatin biology.