Genomics of Adaptations in Ungulates

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Ungulates are essential sources of food, labor, clothing, and transportation for humans. Due to their diverse habitats, ungulates have unique adaptive traits for survival. The availability of genomics resources has made it possible to identify genes associated with adaptations of ungulates to their respective environments. In this review, we document available ungulate genomics resources and genes associated with adaptive traits. ABSTRACT: Ungulates are a group of hoofed animals that have long interacted with humans as essential sources of food, labor, clothing, and transportation. These consist of domesticated, feral, and wild species raised in a wide range of habitats and biomes. Given the diverse and extreme environments inhabited by ungulates, unique adaptive traits are fundamental for fitness. The documentation of genes that underlie their genomic signatures of selection is crucial in this regard. The increasing availability of advanced sequencing technologies has seen the rapid growth of ungulate genomic resources, which offers an exceptional opportunity to understand their adaptive evolution. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on evolutionary genetic signatures underlying the adaptations of ungulates to different habitats.