Tibetan antelopes graze on grass in Serling Tso national nature reserve in Nagqu city, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, Aug 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

XINING — Chinese scientists have successfully assembled the chromosome-level genome of the rare Tibetan antelope, aiming to decode the secrets behind their survival at high altitudes.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed on Friday that researchers from the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology of the CAS and Qinghai University, both based in Xining, capital of Qinghai province in Northwest China, have made the achievement, which is currently the most accurate, complete genome of the species available.

The Tibetan antelope plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. "This achievement not only represents a technical upgrade in the field of Tibetan antelope genetics research but also provides an important genetic foundation for the conservation of plateau biodiversity," said Zhang Tongzuo, a researcher at the institute.

Zhang explained that the in-depth analysis of the Tibetan antelope genome will help predict its ability to survive under future climate change scenarios, enabling more effective conservation measures to be implemented.

A ranger feeds a Tibetan antelope cub in Nyima county of Nagqu city, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, July 13, 2024. A white Tibetan antelope cub is recently rescued by a ranger on patrol in Nyima county, which is the first white Tibetan antelope ever found by rangers in the wild of the area. [Photo/Xinhua]

It will also help identify the populations of the antelopes that require special protection to maintain or increase genetic diversity.

"It is of utmost importance for preventing and controlling the spread of diseases in wild populations," he said.

The genome can also be used to study the relationships between different Tibetan antelope populations, which is crucial for designing appropriate protected area boundaries and planning cross-regional conservation efforts.

Starting in 2022, the joint research team has conducted extensive field surveys and monitoring of the antelopes and assembled their chromosome-level genome through third-generation sequencing technology.

The genome research of the Tibetan antelope also provides a fresh perspective on the conservation of plateau biodiversity.

From a genetic perspective, the Tibetan antelope genome data fills an important gap in the study of the subfamily Caprinae species, offering valuable resources to understand how highland species cope with extreme environmental pressures.

"Through comparative analysis of the genomes of other Caprinae species, such as the bharal and domestic sheep, we can trace the evolutionary history of Tibetan antelope and reveal how they have co-evolved with the highland environment over millions of years," said Zhang.

"These findings not only deepen our understanding of the species evolution mechanisms, but also provide references for further exploration of the adaptability of other highland species," he said.

The number of Tibetan antelope in Xizang has increased to more than 300,000, and their protection status has been downgraded from "endangered" to "near threatened," according to data from the region's ecology and environment department.

Xinhua