The Western clawed frog’s (Xenopus tropicalis) genome has been sequenced, making it the first amphibian to be added to the list of sequenced organisms. Scientists from several institutions collaborated on the study, which was led by Uffe Hellsten of the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute and published in Science magazine.The Western clawed frog was selected for the distinction because of its similarity to the African clawed frog (X. laevis), which has been a staple of research laboratories for decades. The Western clawed frog’s genome, however, is about half the size of its cousin’s, making studying it less time consuming and less expensive.
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