Gene Relations Cross 16 Species Including Human by University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

The chord diagram visually represents gene relationships across sixteen species, including humans, allowing us to explore inter-species gene connectivity in an intuitive way. Each node in the diagram represents a species, while the curved edges indicate gene interactions between species. Species with more interconnections have a greater number of edges, highlighting stronger genetic relationships with other species. This enables researchers to identify species that share a significant number of genes, making them valuable for comparative genomics and evolutionary studies.

One of the most valuable insights from this diagram is the extent of shared genes between species. For example, if humans show many connections with mice and rats, it suggests that these species share a large number of homologous genes. Such insights are crucial for comparative genomics, particularly in identifying model organisms for biomedical research. A strong connection between humans and mice reinforces the relevance of mouse models in genetic studies and disease research.

Additionally, the diagram provides insight into the proportion of inter-species connectivity for each species. Species with a larger number of connections likely have more conserved genes across evolution, while those with fewer connections may have more species-specific genes. Understanding these differences is essential for evolutionary studies, phylogenetic research, and functional genomics.