Genomic Insights into Animal Evolution: From Phylogeny to Adaptation
A Special Issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425) belonging to the section "Animal Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 246
Editors
Interests: genome evolution; new gene; molecular adaptation; vertebrate
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Animals constitute the vast majority of eukaryotic life, exhibiting an extraordinary diversity of body plans, life histories, and physiological traits. Although the proliferation of chromosome-level comparative genomics has yielded remarkable insights into early animal phylogenies and developmental innovations, fundamental questions persist. Specifically, the complex genomic architectures and regulatory networks underpinning morphological diversification, evolutionary novelty, and extreme ecological adaptation remain to be fully elucidated.
This Special Issue, “Genomic Insights into Animal Evolution: From Phylogeny to Adaptation,” seeks to synthesize integrative research bridging molecular evolution, developmental biology, and ecological genomics. We aim to curate a collection of original research and authoritative reviews that leverage cutting-edge multi-omics frameworks—encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, single-cell approaches, and epigenomics. By pairing these technologies with functional validations, this Special Issue seeks to decipher the evolutionary trajectories of diverse animal lineages.
We welcome both empirical and methodological contributions addressing phylogenomics, structural and regulatory genome evolution, gene family dynamics, evo-devo mechanisms, and complex genotype–phenotype linkages. We particularly encourage the submission of studies exploring how genomic plasticity, gene duplication, and regulatory rewiring facilitate environmental adaptation across shifting ecological niches. Ultimately, this Special Issue aims to illuminate the fundamental genomic principles driving the remarkable diversification and adaptive resilience of the animal tree of life.
Dr. Baosheng Wu
Dr. Chenguang Feng
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- comparative genomics
- evolutionary developmental biology (Evo-Devo)
- molecular adaptation
- regulatory evolution
- animal phylogeny
- genotype–phenotype mapping
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