# Whole genome sequencing and assembly of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus

## TL;DR

This paper presents a high-quality genome assembly for the house sparrow, which will aid in studying bird and vertebrate evolution.

## Contribution

The paper provides a new annotated genome assembly for the house sparrow using advanced sequencing and assembly tools.

## Key findings

- The genome assembly spans 922 MB with contigs totaling 268,193 bases.
- The assembly shows significant similarity to the chicken and zebra finch genomes.
- Functional annotations were added to enhance the genome's utility for comparative studies.

## Abstract

The common house sparrow, Passer domesticus, is a small bird belonging to the family Passeridae. Here, we provide high-quality whole-genome sequencing data along with its assembly for the house sparrow. The final genome assembly was generated using a workflow that included Shovill, SPAdes, MaSuRCA, and BUSCO. The assembly consists of contigs spanning 268,193 bases and coalescing around a 922 MB sized reference genome. We used rigorous statistical thresholds to check the coverage, as the Passer genome showed considerable similarity to the Gallus gallus (chicken) and Taeniopygia guttata (Zebra finch) genomes, also providing functional annotations. This new annotated genome assembly will be a valuable resource for comparative and population genomic analyses of passerine, avian, and vertebrate evolution.