Genome sequences provide an unprecedented view of genetic information, but understanding genome organization also requires information about how sequences are arranged within chromosomes. Here, I will present the development and cytogenetic characterization of VicPac4, a chromosome-level reference genome for alpaca (Vicugna pacos). This genome provided a framework for identifying and chromosomally mapping repetitive regions, including SACSAT, a satellite DNA family specific to South American camelids. Building on this work, I developed a workflow to characterize satellite DNA families in silico and integrate sequence-based analyses with cytogenetic mapping. This approach identified 14 satellite DNA families across the alpaca genome, 9 of which were mapped to specific chromosomes using PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). These analyses revealed distinct patterns of satellite organization, including an unexpectedly restricted interstitial satellite localized to only two autosomes, chromosomes 27 and 36.
Mayra Mendoza is a postdoctoral researcher in the Makova Lab at The Pennsylvania State University, where her research focuses on reconstructing the genomic legacy of an extreme founder bottleneck in the endangered Przewalski’s horse. Before joining Penn State, she completed her Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics at Texas A&M University, where she was trained in molecular cytogenetics. She earned her M.S. in Animal Production and B.S. in Genetics and Biotechnology in Peru.