Evolution of the Mutation Spectrum Across a Mammalian Phylogeny.

ABSTRACT: Although evolutionary biologists have long theorized that variation in DNA repair efficacy might explain some of the diversity of lifespan and cancer incidence across species, we have little data on the variability of normal germline mutagenesis outside of humans. Here, we shed light on the spectrum and etiology of mutagenesis across mammals by quantifying mutational sequence context biases using polymorphism data from thirteen species of mice, apes, bears, wolves, and cetaceans. After normalizing the mutation spectrum for reference genome accessibility and k-mer content, we use the Mantel test to deduce that mutation spectrum divergence is highly correlated with genetic divergence between species, whereas life history traits like reproductive age are weaker predictors of mutation spectrum

SUBMITTER: Beichman AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10566577 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature