Decoding the Genome of the Camel

By sequencing the genome of a Bactrian camel, researchers have made contribution to the genetic research on camels in populations. There are two species of camel, one humped and two humped and both reside in desert regions. Their ability to carry heavy loads over long distances and survive in hostile environments makes them better suited for transportation and better able to adapt to different environments. Genetic data from camels provides researchers with insights on breeding strategies and selection processs applied by humans when domesticating. Until recently, the genetic code of the camel was never fully analyzed, making it difficult or impossible to fully research while the human genome has been available since 2003. Lack of genetic data has restricted studies of camel genetics. The camel genome is estimated to be 2.8 Gb, containing 20,821 protein-coding genes. Camels, though they aren't used too much in the U.S., they are widely used in countries in the desert regions of the world for transportation so learning more about the camel and it's genetics can assist many people who need camels in their everyday life.