JUNE 10,
2019
Analysis of
the first fully-sequenced genome of the Siberian hamster shows how these small,
seasonal breeders adapt their bodies and energy usage to survive the winter.
The
research, published this week in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, also includes transcriptome analysis of gene
expression in the brain during both summer and winter conditions, which reveals
the cascade of signals that prepare the hamster for winter, triggered by
decreasing day length.
The Siberian
hamster (Phodopus sungorus) is a model organism for studying seasonal
biological rhythms. They breed during the spring and early summer, but as fall
approaches and day length shortens, their bodies change dramatically. The
hamsters lose almost half their body weight, mostly through fat, and limit food
intake by 30 to 40%. They don't hibernate, but modestly reduce their body
temperature during the daytime to conserve energy. Their fur thickens and
changes color to stark white, and they become infertile until they begin
reversing course to prepare for the next breeding season.
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