Present and prospects of research on neotropical mammals using genomic approaches

Abstract

The recent revolution in sequencing methods allowed the generation of genomic, transcriptomic, and other large-scale data at a speed and low cost undreamed fifteen years ago. These large datasets can be used for understanding complex processes and are already a reality for many taxonomic groups in the world. The transition of several biological fields such as ecology, systematics, developmental biology and biological conservation into the genomic era promises to foster our understanding of functional and structural mammalian biodiversity in Neotropics, as new sequencing technologies liberate virtually any species from genomic ignorance and transform them into new study models. Here, we aim to first give a brief overview on recent development of genomic technologies and then illustrate how these technologies are being used to study Neotropical mammals in several fields. Finally, we discuss caveats and future perspectives, as the number of genomic sequences available is continually increasing and opening new avenues for research. Although progressing in a slower pace when compared to other mammals of the world, genomics has already provided important insights and promises to deliver many more. Considering the great importance of Neotropical realm and all the threats that biodiversity must face on this biogeographical area, the future of the diversity of mammals here depends largely on urgent conservation actions based on scientific knowledge, making genomics as useful as never before.