Genomic insights into chromosomal fusion and its evolutionary implications for zokors.

ABSTRACT: Chromosomal fusion and fission are widespread across species, yet the underlying genomic mechanisms and their evolutionary implications remain poorly understood. Here, we present high-quality chromosome-level genome assemblies for two closely related subterranean rodent species, Eospalax rufescens and E. rothschildi. Through comparative genomic and synteny analyses, we identified two species-specific chromosomal fusions in E. rothschildi, likely mediated by ectopic recombination through repetitive elements and by mutations affecting genome stability. Despite minimal changes in base-level genomic features, the fused chromosomes are associated with altered three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture, including increased chromatin entropy, topologically associating domain (TAD) rearrangemen

SUBMITTER: Kuang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12911924 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature