Whole Genome Sequencing and Assembly of the House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Abstract

The common house sparrow, Passer domesticus is a small bird belonging to the family Passeridae. Here, we provide high-quality whole genome sequence data along with assembly for the house sparrow. The final genome assembly was assembled using a Shovill/SPAdes/MASURCA/BUSCO workflow, consisting of contigs spanning 268193 bases and coalescing around a 922 MB sized reference genome. We employed rigorous statistical thresholds to check the coverage, as the Passer genome showed considerable similarity to Gallus gallus (chicken) and Taeniopygia guttata (Zebra finch) genomes, also providing a functional annotation. This new annotated genome assembly will be a valuable resource as a reference for comparative and population genomic analyses of passerine, avian, and vertebrate evolution. SignificanceAvian evolution has been of great interest in the context of extinction. Annotating the genomes such as passerines would be of significant interest as we could understand the behavior/foraging traits and further explore their evolutionary landscape. In this work, we provide a full genome sequence of Indian house sparrow, viz. Passer domesticus which will serve as a useful resource in understanding the adaptability, evolution, geography, allee effects and circadian rhythms.