New genetic map to reveal songbird secrets

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have helped to sequence the entire genome of the zebra finch, unravelling the genetics underpinning some of the uniquely fascinating traits of birds such a plumage and song.

Published in Nature, the study involved an international team of researchers from the Middle East, USA and Europe, including scientists from the University of Sheffield´s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences (APS).

The zebra finch is a model organism for behavioural ecologists and neurobiologists. Zebra finches and other songbirds have one important thing in common with humans – they learn how to vocalise by listening to their parents. They therefore offer a unique opportunity to help us understand the genetics behind the wiring and re-wiring of our brains when we learn and memorise.

The zebra finch belongs to the Passerine group of birds, which makes up around half of all bird species. Passerines, or `perching birds´, bring the sound of spring to gardens all over Europe and include garden birds such as the blue tit, blackbird, thrush and robin. The zebra finch is the first passerine, and only the second bird species, after chickens, to have its genome sequenced.

The Sheffield team of Dr Jon Slate, professor Tim Birkhead, Dr Jess Stapley and  p rofessor Terry Burke helped the international effort by building a zebra finch genetic map containing around 1000 genes, using data collected from over 500 birds. This map was used as the `scaffolding´ onto which the zebra finch DNA sequences, generated by other teams in the project, could be added.

Explaining the importance of this project, Dr Jon Slate said: "Sequencing the zebra finch genome is tremendously exciting for several reasons. First, it provides far greater understanding into how bird genomes have evolved over the last 100 million years. For example, we now know that bird genomes are not as evolutionarily conserved as was once thought.