Hu L, Long J, Lin Y, Gu ZR, Su H, Dong XM, Lin ZZ, Xiao Q, Batbayar N, Bold B, Deutschová L, Ganusevich S, Sokolov V, Sokolov A, Patel HR, Waters PD, Graves JAM, Dixon A, Pan SK*, Zhan XJ*. 2022. Arctic introgression and chromatin regulation facilitated rapid Qinghai-Tibet Plateau colonization by an avian predator. Nature Communications,13: 6413.

Gu ZR, Pan SK, Lin ZZ, Hu L, Dai XY, Chang J, Xue YC, Su H, Long J, Sun MR, Ganusevich S, Sokolov V, Sokolov A, Pokrovsky I, Ji F, Bruford MW, Dixon A, Zhan XJ*. 2021. Climate-driven flyway changes and memory-based long-distance migration. Nature, 591: 259-264. (Cover story)

Xu DM, Yang CP, Sheng QS, Pan SK, Liu Z, Zhang TZ, Zhou X, Lei ML, Chen P, Yang H, Zhang T, Guo YT, Zhan XJ*, Cheng YB*, Shi P*. 2021. A single mutation underlying phenotypic convergence for hypoxia adaptation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Cell Research, 31: 1032-1035.

Fan RW, Gu ZR, Guang XM, Marín JC, Varas V, González BA, Wheeler JC, Hu YF, Li EL, Sun XH, Yang XK, Zhang C, Gao WJ, He JP, Munch K, Corbett-Detig R, Barbato M, Pan SK, Zhan XJ*, Bruford MW*, Dong CS*. 2020. Genomic analysis of the domestication and post-Spanish conquest evolution of the llama and alpaca. Genome Biology, 21: 159.

Pan SK, Lin Y, Liu Q, Duan JZ, Lin ZZ, Wang YS, Wang XL, Lam SM, Zou Z, Shui GH, Zhang Y, Zhang ZW, Zhan XJ*. 2019. Convergent genomic signatures of flight loss in birds suggest a switch of main fuel. Nature Communications, 10: 2756.

Pan SK, Bruford MW, Wang YS, Lin ZZ, Gu ZR, Hou X, Deng XM, Dixon A, Graves JAM, Zhan XJ*. 2018. Transcription-associated mutation promotes RNA complexity in highly expressed genes-a major new source of selectable variation. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 35: 1104-1119.

Hou X, Xu PW, Lin ZZ, Urban-Jackson J, Dixon A, Bold B, Xu JL*, Zhan XJ*. 2018. An integrated tool for microsatellite isolation and validation from the reference genome and their application in the study of breeding turnover in an endangered avian population. Integrative Zoology, 13: 553-568. (Cover story)

Pan SK, Zhang TZ, Rong ZQ, Hu L, Gu ZR, Wu Q, Dong SS, Liu Q, Lin ZZ, Deutschova L, Li XH, Dixon A, Bruford MW*, Zhan XJ*. 2017. Population transcriptomes reveal synergistic responses of DNA polymorphism and RNA expression to extreme environments on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in a predatory bird. Molecular Ecology, 26: 2993-3010.

Zhan XJ, Dixon A, Batbayar N, Bragin E, Z Ayas et al. 2015. Exonic versus intronic SNPs: contrasting roles in revealing the population genetic differentiation of a widespread bird species. Heredity, 114: 1-9. (Cover story)

Jarvis ED, ……, Zhan XJ…... 2014. Whole genome analyses resolve early branches in the tree of life of modern birds. Science, 346: 1320-1331. (Cover story)

Zhan XJ, Zheng YF, Wei FW, Bruford MW, Jia CX. 2011. Molecular evidence for Pleistocene refugia at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Molecular Ecology, 20: 3014-3026.

Zhan XJ, Pan SK, Wang JY, Dixon A, He J et al. 2013. Peregrine and saker falcon genome sequences provide insights into evolution of a predatory lifestyle. Nature Genetics, 45: 563-566. (Highlighted by Faculty 1000)

Zhao SC#, Zheng PP#, Dong SS#, Zhan XJ#, Wu Q# et al. 2013. Whole-genome sequencing of giant pandas provides insights into demographic history and local adaptation. Nature Genetics, 45: 67-71. (#contributed equally) (Cover story)

Zhan XJ, Zhang ZJ, Wu H, Goossens B, Li M, Jiang SW, Bruford WM, Wei FW. 2007. Molecular analysis of dispersal in giant panda. Molecular Ecology, 16: 3792-3800.

Zhan XJ, Li M, Zhang ZJ, Goossens B, Chen YP et al. 2006. Molecular censusing doubles giant panda population estimate in a key nature reserve. Current Biology, 16: R451-452. (Cover story and highlighted by Nature, Science etc.)

Zhan XJ, Zhang ZW. 2005. Molecular phylogeny of avian genus Syrmaticus based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and control region. Zoological Science, 22: 427-435.