Image
Genome map of beaver: Canadian scientists' gift to nation's 150th birthday
Toronto, Jan 17 (IBNS): Scientists in Canada decided to offer a unique gift to the nation on its 150th birthday in the form of sequencing the genome of the Canadian beaver, media reports said.
The beaver was given official status as an emblem of Canada when “An Act to provide for the recognition of the Beaver (Castor canadensis) as a symbol of the sovereignty of Canada” received royal assent on March 24, 1975. However, the beaver was a part of the Canadian identity long before Parliament passed the National Symbol of Canada Act.
A team of molecular geneticists at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children had categorised the genome of the Canadian beaver to help advance research into human conditions like autism.
Stephen Scherer, Director of The Centre for Applied Genomics & Senior Scientist, Genetics & Genome Biology, at SickKids, led a six-month project to map the genetic scheme of the furry beaver.
SickKids-supported research facilities received $116 million to fund genomics and advanced computing research in Canada.
Scherer’s team had developed a new approach to assembling genomes and chose the beaver to experiment upon as it is integral to the country's history, going back to the early fur trade, CP24 reports said.
The genome was sequenced in part using DNA from Ward, a 10-year-old male beaver that lived in the Toronto Zoo with its mate June.
“What we found is that the beaver genome is roughly the same size as the human genome, maybe a little smaller. We’ve never sequenced any genomes with the quality that we’ve had with the beaver. It’s exciting because it allows us to see some things for the very first time,” a news release from the SickKids reported.
Scherer said that the same technology will be used to map genomes of families affected by autism, to find out if mutated genes are the reasons behind the neurological condition. His lab has already confirmed that nearly 20 percent of autism cases were caused by genetic mutations.
This study was supported by Genome Canada, Ontario Genomics, Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Government of Ontario, the Lau Family Endowment and SickKids Foundation.
Results of the research were published on Friday in the journal G3: Genes/Genomes/Genetics. Its cover page contains a photo of the first Canadian stamp which features the national symbol.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Top Headlines
-
News
Supreme Court slams Maneka Gandhi over remarks on stray dogs case, flags possible contempt
January 20, 2026
-
News
'India-EU trade deal nears finish line': European Commission Prez at Davos, calls it mother of all deals
January 20, 2026
-
News
Nitin Nabin becomes BJPs youngest president ahead of key assembly polls, PM Modi calls him my boss
January 20, 2026
-
News
PM Modi calls Nitin Nabin my boss as he takes over BJP leadership
January 20, 2026
-
News
David Beckhams son drops bombshell, accuses parents of trying to ruin his marriage
January 20, 2026
-
News
Mamata Banerjee appeals to CJI for protection from targeting by agencies amid ED row
January 18, 2026
-
News
Trump tariff bomb on Iran trade: Tharoor flags existential crisis for Indian exporters
January 15, 2026
-
News
Major blow to Mamata! SC stays FIRs, flags state meddling in central probe as serious issue
January 15, 2026
-
News
Russia warns US against strikes on Iran, calls threats 'unacceptable after Trump's 'help on way' promise
January 13, 2026
-
News
Rahul Gandhis Jana Nayagan post fuels Congress churn over possible TVK outreach in Tamil Nadu
January 13, 2026
