Chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of Octodon degus.

OctDeg2.0 delivers a 3.4 billion base-pair chromosome-level genome assembly for the degu (Octodon degus), improving contiguity and completeness over the prior short-read reference.

• Why it matters: High-quality reference genomes are still missing for many emerging model organisms, limiting comparative and functional genomics.
• What they did: Using PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing and Hi-C scaffolding from a single male, the study built and annotated OctDeg2.0, including cis-regulatory element and chromatin architecture analyses.
• The result: The new assembly substantially improves gene annotation and resolves repetitive/structurally complex regions (including centromeres and segmental duplications), enabling more detailed molecular studies in Octodon degus.