Mosaic of somatic mutations in one of Earth's largest organisms, Pando.

ABSTRACT: While evolutionary biology traditionally focuses on the spread of mutations within populations, the dynamics of mutational spread within individuals, particularly in long-lived clonally, spreading organisms remain poorly understood. Here we examine the genetic structure of 'Pando', Earth's largest known quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) clone. We sequenced over 500 samples across Pando and neighboring clones, including multiple tissue types. At fine spatial scales, we detected significant genetic structure, particularly in leaf tissue, but this signal weakened across larger distances, suggesting either rapid root growth homogenizes the system over time or mechanisms exist that prevent widespread mutation transmission. Phylogenetic analyses date Pando between ~12,000 and 37,000 yea

SUBMITTER: Pineau RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11526904 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature