Chromosome-level genome assembly reveals homologous chromosomes and recombination in asexual rotifer Adineta vaga.

ABSTRACT: Bdelloid rotifers are notorious as a speciose ancient clade comprising only asexual lineages. Thanks to their ability to repair highly fragmented DNA, most bdelloid species also withstand complete desiccation and ionizing radiation. Producing a well-assembled reference genome is a critical step to developing an understanding of the effects of long-term asexuality and DNA breakage on genome evolution. To this end, we present the first high-quality chromosome-level genome assemblies for the bdelloid Adineta vaga, composed of six pairs of homologous (diploid) chromosomes with a footprint of paleotetraploidy. The observed large-scale losses of heterozygosity are signatures of recombination between homologous chromosomes, either during mitotic DNA double-strand break repair or when resol

SUBMITTER: Simion P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8494291 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature