Research led by Benjamin Hanrahan and Kirat Alreja has achieved a milestone in Australian reptile genomics with the sequencing of the Alpine three-lined skink (Bassiana duperreyi), a native lizard found in the highlands and alpine regions of southeastern Australia and Tasmania. This work was supported by Bioplatforms Australia through the Amphibian and Reptile Genome Initiative.
The Alpine three-lined skink is an oviparous species with a fascinating difference: under low-temperature conditions during incubation, some genetically female individuals develop into functioning males. This natural sex reversal makes the species an important model for understanding how temperature interacts with genetic sex determination, a topic of growing relevance under climate change.
To build a reference genome for the species, researchers used cutting-edge long-read sequencing technologies. The resulting genome maps nearly all of the skink’s chromosomes, including key fragments of the elusive Y chromosome. This represents one of the most complete lizard genomes sequenced to date and marks a significant step toward identifying candidate genes involved in male development.
The Bassiana duperreyi genome is a valuable resource for understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies in reptiles. As an egg-laying (oviparous) species closely related to several live-bearing (viviparous) skinks, it occupies a key position within a lineage that has undergone multiple transitions in reproductive mode. With its genome now sequenced, researchers can carry out comparative studies to explore how traits like placentation and other aspects of viviparity have evolved within the diverse Scincidae family, which includes hundreds of species across Australia.
This work contributes to broader conservation and biodiversity efforts by addressing the underrepresentation of reptiles in global genomic datasets. Producing high-quality genomic resources for Australian species not only preserves their evolutionary history but also supports long-term monitoring.
As one of the first genomic resources for an Australian alpine reptile, the Bassiana duperreyi genome is expected to support studies in evolutionary biology, reproductive ecology, and climate resilience. It marks a significant step forward in the protection of Australia’s unique reptile biodiversity.
Read more about this research here: https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkaf046