First Amphibian Gene Sequence Performed, May Help Save Frogs From Extinction

Amphibians evolved approximately 250 million years ago and live on every continent on earth except for Antarctica. Their long-standing history is now in jeopardy, at least in the case of frogs, from various threats including fungus, chemicals in the environment and human encroachment. A recent genome study is hoping to help amphibians, particularly frogs, avoid extinction.
Scientists recently published their complete genome sequence of the Xenopus tropicalis, or western clawed frog, in the journal Science. This particular frog is officially the first amphibian to have their genome sequenced, joining the human, chicken, horse, rat, platypus and yeast. The frog has around 20,000 genes in total, which is comparable to a human. The Xenopus tropicalis is immune to the fatal fungal disease now afflicting current frog populations, which makes scientists hopeful they will be able to help those susceptible.
The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been devastating populations of frogs and salamanders across the globe. Frogs have been the hardest hit and the fungus is thought to be the main culprit in some recent frog extinctions. Due to the immunity of the western clawed frog, scientists will be working to compare its genome with those that are susceptible. In addition, they are hoping to find the reason the western clawed frog is immune. If the chemicals responsible for the immunity of the western clawed frog are found, scientists hope to use it to make other frogs immune as well.
In addition, the sequence is going to be used to determine how endocrine-disrupting chemicals impact the frog. It is known that these chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS), cause frogs to have gender issues. Frogs are particularly susceptible to such chemicals due to their immensely permeable skin. Information obtained from a study of this kind can then be applied to humans, which are also highly sensitive to such chemicals.