Scientists decode DNA of rare Tibetan antelope

XINING — Chinese scientists have successfully assembled the chromosome-level genome of the rare Tibetan antelope, aiming to decode the secrets behind their survival at high altitudes.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed on Friday that researchers from the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology of the CAS and Qinghai University, both based in Xining, capital of Qinghai province in Northwest China, have made the achievement, which is currently the most accurate, complete genome of the species available.

The Tibetan antelope plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. "This achievement not only represents a technical upgrade in the field of Tibetan antelope genetics research but also provides an important genetic foundation for the conservation of plateau biodiversity," said Zhang Tongzuo, a researcher at the institute.