Comparison of Carnivore, Omnivore, and Herbivore Genomes with a New Leopard Assembly

This study generated a high-quality genome of the leopard and compared it across the dietary spectrum, contrasting strict carnivores like cats with omnivores and herbivores to identify the genomic basis of hypercarnivory. The authors found that cat genomes are enriched for genes supporting a meat-based diet, fast muscle contraction, and acute sensory perception, while showing reductions in genes for digesting plant material. They also examined leopard population history and diversity. The leopard assembly added a key data point to felid comparative genomics, reinforcing the picture of cats as highly specialized predators shaped at the molecular level by their obligate carnivorous lifestyle.