Phased genome assemblies in the critically endangered Chinese Bahaba (Teleostei, Sciaenidae)

The fitness of organisms is influenced by the number of deleterious mutations in the genome. Although the distribution pattern of haplotype-specific genetic load plays an important role in shaping the evolutionary trajectory of natural and captive populations, it has been so far elusive in diploids due to mixing of haplotypes during assembly and genotyping. Herein we produce two phased genome assemblies from female and male individuals of the critically endangered fish Chinese Bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis, Sciaenidae, Teleostei). Simulations suggest that purifying selection has limited power to remove genetic load in captive breeding, calling for genotyping interventions in conservation programs, and that higher inter-haplotypic variance of genetic load predicts more efficient load removal by artificial selection.