Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33065008›Full record

ArticleCurrent biology : CB2020

Genomic Adaptations and Evolutionary History of the Extinct Scimitar-Toothed Cat, Homotherium latidens.

Ross Barnett, Michael V Westbury, Marcela Sandoval-Velasco, Filipe Garrett Vieira, Sungwon Jeon, Grant Zazula, Michael D Martin, Simon Y W Ho, Niklas Mather, Shyam Gopalakrishnan and 21 more

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Current biology : CB, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed
6.5field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed, 54 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
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  3. The Japanese Archipelago sheltered cave lions, not tigers, during the Late Pleistocene.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

31 authors at 17 institutions in 15 countries.

Ross BarnettSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Michael V WestburySection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: m.westbury@sund.ku.dk.
Marcela Sandoval-VelascoSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Filipe Garrett VieiraSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sungwon JeonKorean Genomics Center (KOGIC), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
Grant ZazulaYukon Palaeontology Program, Department of Tourism and Culture, Government of Yukon, PO Box 2703, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2C6, Canada.
Michael D MartinDepartment of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.
Simon Y W HoSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Niklas MatherSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Shyam GopalakrishnanSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1352, Denmark.
Jazmín Ramos-MadrigalSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1352, Denmark.
Marc de ManuelInstitute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
M Lisandra Zepeda-MendozaSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark; School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Agostinho AntunesCIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, Porto 4450-208, Portugal; Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto 4169-007, Portugal.
Aldo Carmona BaezSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Binia De CahsanSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Greger LarsonThe Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford, 1 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3TG, UK.
Stephen J O'BrienLaboratory of Genomic Diversity, Center for Computer Technologies, ITMO University, 49 Kronverkskiy Pr., St. Petersburg 197101, Russia; Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 North Ocean Drive. Ft Lauderdale, FL 33004, USA.
Eduardo EizirikLaboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biology, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; INCT Ecologia, Evolução e Conservação da Biodiversidade (INCT-EECBio), Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, SP, Brazil.
Warren E JohnsonCenter for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA; The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, 4210 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746-2863, USA; Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
Klaus-Peter KoepfliCenter for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.
Andreas WiltingLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, Berlin 10315, Germany.
Jörns FickelLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, Berlin 10315, Germany; Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, Potsdam 14476, Germany.
Love DalénCentre for Palaeogenetics, Svante Arrhenius väg 20C, Stockholm SE-10691, Sweden; Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, Stockholm 10405, Sweden.
Eline D LorenzenSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1352, Denmark.
Tomas Marques-BonetInstitute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 4, Barcelona 08028, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, ICREA, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona 08193, Spain.
Anders J HansenCenter for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1352, Denmark; Section for GeoGenetics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Guojie ZhangBGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen, Denmark; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
Jong BhakKorean Genomics Center (KOGIC), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea; Clinomics, Inc., Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea; Personal Genomics Institute (PGI), Genome Research Foundation (GRF), Osong 28160, Republic of Korea.
Nobuyuki YamaguchiInstitute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu 21030, Malaysia.
M Thomas P GilbertSection for Evolutionary Genomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7491, Norway; Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, The GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1352, Denmark. Electronic address: tgilbert@sund.ku.dk.
University of Copenhagen · DKLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research · DEUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology · KRUniversity of Sydney · AUInstitut de Biologia Evolutiva · ESInstituto Pró-Carnívoros · BRITMO University · RUKunming Institute of Zoology · CNNational Zoological Park · USNorwegian University of Science and Technology · NOSmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute · USSwedish Museum of Natural History · SEUniversidade do Porto · PTUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona · ESUniversiti Malaysia Terengganu · MYUniversity of Oxford · GBYukon Department of Tourism and Culture · CA

Funding

European Research Council 681396
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Homotherium was a genus of large-bodied scimitar-toothed cats, morphologically distinct from any extant felid species, that went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene [1-4]. They possessed large, saber-form serrated canine teeth, powerful forelimbs, a sloping back, and an enlarged optic bulb, all of which were key characteristics for predation on Pleistocene megafauna [5]. Previous mitochondrial DNA phylogenies suggested that it was a highly divergent sister lineage to all extant cat species [6-8]. However, mitochondrial phylogenies can be misled by hybridization [9], incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), or sex-biased dispersal patterns [10], which might be especially relevant for Homotherium since widespread mito-nuclear discrepancies have been uncovered in modern cats [10]. To examine the evolutionary history of Homotherium, we generated a ∼7x nuclear genome and a ∼38x exome from H. latidens using shotgun and target-capture sequencing approaches. Phylogenetic analyses reveal Homotherium as highly divergent (∼22.5 Ma) from living cat species, with no detectable signs of gene flow. Comparative genomic analyses found signatures of positive selection in several genes, including those involved in vision, cognitive function, and energy consumption, putatively consistent with diurnal activity, well-developed social behavior, and cursorial hunting [5]. Finally, we uncover relatively high levels of genetic diversity, suggesting that Homotherium may have been more abundant than the limited fossil record suggests [3, 4, 11-14]. Our findings complement and extend previous inferences from both the fossil record and initial molecular studies, enhancing our understanding of the evolution and ecology of this remarkable lineage.

Indexed as

Genetic DriftGenetic SpeciationAnimal DistributionAnimalsCuspidDNA, AncientExtinction, BiologicalFelidaeFossilsGenomicsHybridization, GeneticPhylogenyRecombination, GeneticDNA, Ancientadaptationancient DNAcomparative genomesdiversitygenomicsHomotheriumpalaeogenomepaleogenomephylogenyselection

Identifiers

PMID33065008
PMCPMC7762822
OpenAlexW3093371733

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.