Deserts are among the harshest environments on Earth. The multiple ages of different deserts and their global distribution provide a unique opportunity to study repeated adaptation at different timescales. Here, we summarize recent genomic research on the genetic mechanisms underlying desert adaptations in mammals. Several studies on different desert mammals show large overlap in functional classes of genes and pathways, consistent with the complexity and variety of phenotypes associated with desert adaptation to water and food scarcity and extreme temperatures. However, studies of desert adaptation are also challenged by a lack of accurate genotype–phenotype–environment maps. We encourage development of systems that facilitate functional analyses, but also acknowledge the need for more studies on a wider variety of desert mammals.

沙漠是地球上最恶劣的环境之一。不同沙漠的多个时代及其全球分布为研究不同时间尺度的重复适应提供了独特的机会。在这里，我们总结了最近关于哺乳动物沙漠适应遗传机制的基因组研究。对不同沙漠哺乳动物的几项研究表明，基因和通路的功能类别存在很大的重叠，这与沙漠对水和食物短缺以及极端温度的适应相关的表型的复杂性和多样性一致。然而，沙漠适应研究也面临着缺乏准确的基因型-表型-环境图的挑战。我们鼓励开发有助于功能分析的系统，但也承认需要对更广泛的沙漠哺乳动物进行更多研究。