Unusually Large Number of Mutations in Asexually Reproducing Clonal Planarian Dugesia japonica.

ABSTRACT: We established a laboratory clonal strain of freshwater planarian (Dugesia japonica) that was derived from a single individual and that continued to undergo autotomous asexual reproduction for more than 20 years, and we performed large-scale genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis on it. Despite the fact that a completely clonal strain of the planarian was used, an unusually large number of mutations were detected. To enable quantitative genetic analysis of such a unique organism, we developed a new model called the Reference Gene Model, and used it to conduct large-scale transcriptome analysis. The results revealed large numbers of mutations not only outside but also inside gene-coding regions. Non-synonymous SNPs were detected in 74% of the genes for which valid ORFs were predicted.

SUBMITTER: Nishimura O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4654569 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature