VicPac3.0: A New and Improved Alpaca Reference Genome

The development of reliable whole genome sequence maps is key for understanding not only the genome architecture of a species, but it is a critical component to reveal the genetic blueprint of diseases, congenital disorders and traits of biological significance. Here we provide a summary of our recent work improving the previous VicPac2.0 reference genome. Through a combined approach utilizing hybrid genome assembly of 5x PacBio and 100x Illumina reads, together with a meta-assembly including the previous VicPac reference genomes we have generated a substantially more contiguous and accurate sequence assembly. We have improved the annotation of genes and gene models through the addition of RNA-Seq data, annotated gene promoters and regulatory regions with methylome data and chromosomally anchored sequences with an improved radiation hybrid map and cytogenetic (FISH) data. We also provide our future directions and plan for the new VicPac3.0 reference assembly and present a new website to consolidate camelid comparative genomics.