Evolution of the germline mutation rate across vertebrates
University of Copenhagen · Aarhus University · +16 more institutions
Abstract
Abstract The germline mutation rate determines the pace of genome evolution and is an evolving parameter itself 1 . However, little is known about what determines its evolution, as most studies of mutation rates have focused on single species with different methodologies 2 . Here we quantify germline mutation rates across vertebrates by sequencing and comparing the high-coverage genomes of 151 parent–offspring trios from 68 species of mammals, fishes, birds and reptiles. We show that the per-generation mutation rate varies among species by a factor of 40, with mutation rates being higher for males than for females in mammals and birds, but not in reptiles and fishes. The generation time, age at maturity and…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 99.32
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 116
Authors
14Topics & keywords
- Germline
- Mutation rate
- Mutation
- Germline mutation
- Biology
- Genetics
- Evolutionary biology
- Gene