The takeaway: New tech allows researchers to easily and affordably map the genomes of animals, and birds are no exception. 

Every living thing–from you all the way down to the virus that makes you cough–is made up of a genome. This genome–and they are all different–is a set of genes that are like little instruction books, and influence everything from how tall you are to how fast you can (or can’t run) to what foods you like.

Genomes used to be difficult things to decipher–the first sequencing of a human genome took 13 years and cost $2.7 billion. But about 20 years ago, discoveries from a broad range of scientists, from molecular biologists to physicists and bioinformaticians, unveiled a new way to sequence a genome now known as next-generation sequencing (NGS), and the results have had massive implications for our understanding of life. Today, a genome can be sequenced in less than a day and cost around $600. 

We can now sequence just about anything we want–and birds are no exception.

DNA Sequencing Bird Genomes

Using fast, cheap NGS technology, researchers around the world have begun to sequence animal genomes to learn about lineage, migration, disease, and more. For birds, much of this research is being led by B10K–the Bird Genome 10K Database.

This organization, a group of scientists from around the world, was kicked off more than a decade ago as an effort to generate draft genome sequences for about 10,500 bird species. The data are being used to inform studies and investigate infections such as avian influenza that could pass from animals to humans.

So far, while the body of evidence itself is impressively large, it’s also uncovered fascinating details about the evolution of various species. For example, one sequencing study led to discussion of species that face extinction and, while continuing to survive, suffer the consequences of low genetic diversity.

Why Studying Bird Genomes Is Important

We already know a lot about birds, so why are studies deciphering their individual genetic codes so important? There are both scientific and practical reasons.

  • Understanding evolution: Birds are diverse and widespread. By comparing their genomes, researchers can trace how different species evolved, when they split from ancestors, and how different traits developed.

  • Reconstructing Earth’s history: Bird evolution reflects global events such as mass extinctions. Genomes show us how birds survived and diversified.

  • Conservation: Genetic information helps identify distinct species and populations, and can inform efforts on how to protect endangered birds and preserve genetic diversity.

Investigating the Complexity of Avian Evolution

Bird genomes are complicated in large part because of their complex evolutionary history. Bird genomes are linked to wildly intricate traits such as their ability to fly.

Birds have a particularly ancient lineage that evolved from dinosaurs more than 150 million years ago. Their genomes are more difficult to sequence and analyze than many other animals, there is wide variation in chromosomes, and the species as a whole has lost genes. Fascinating facts about bird genomes include that the species has a high number of genetic mutations–perhaps due to the constant metabolic stress of powered flight. The species experienced rapid diversification after its initial evolutionary event which led to major genetic changes and adaptation to varied ecological niches.

These challenges were summarized in a recent study in Nature. The study’s authors gathered genomic data from 218 bird families, or 92% of documented families, to produce a refined family tree that shows early genetic divergences. The bottom line is that researchers used this wide sampling of genomes to finally untangle the messy bird family tree and reveal how modern birds diversified right after the dinosaurs vanished.

Genetic Insights from Your Smart Bird Feeder

While smart bird feeders like those from FeatherSnap won’t tell you much about genetic mutations, DNA sequences, or chromosome structure, they will provide insight into many things that connect to genomes.

  • Species identification and genetic diversity: By using your AI-powered bird ID Tools, you can see which species visit and how often, and note patterns of species richness and abundance. These reflect genetic diversity on a large scale.

  • Behavioral traits with genetic underpinnings: Genes can instruct bird behaviors such as visit timings, aggressing, and feeding strategies.

  • Seasonal changes and migration: Genetic coding can influence navigation and hormonal cycles, which impact things like which species visit your feeder and when.

  • Adaptation to urban settings: Some species will thrive at your feeder, others will avoid it. This can point to genomic adaptations based on human-created environments–things like genes that are linked to stress tolerance or metabolism.

Get your smart bird feeders here.