Consequences of Asexuality in Natural Populations: Insights from Stick Insects

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DOI

  • Jens Bast
    University of Lausanne
  • Darren J Parker
    University of LausanneSwiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Geneva
  • Zoé Dumas
    University of Lausanne
  • Kirsten M Jalvingh
    University of Lausanne
  • Patrick Tran Van
    University of Lausanne
  • Kamil S Jaron
    University of Lausanne
  • Emeric Figuet
    University of Montpellier
  • Alexander Brandt
    University of Göttingen
  • Nicolas Galtier
    University of Montpellier
  • Tanja Schwander
    University of Lausanne

Recombination is a fundamental process with significant impacts on genome evolution. Predicted consequences of the loss of recombination include a reduced effectiveness of selection, changes in the amount of neutral polymorphisms segregating in populations, and an arrest of GC-biased gene conversion. Although these consequences are empirically well documented for nonrecombining genome portions, it remains largely unknown if they extend to the whole genome scale in asexual organisms. We identify the consequences of asexuality using de novo transcriptomes of five independently derived, obligately asexual lineages of stick insects, and their sexual sister-species. We find strong evidence for higher rates of deleterious mutation accumulation, lower levels of segregating polymorphisms and arrested GC-biased gene conversion in asexuals as compared with sexuals. Taken together, our study conclusively shows that predicted consequences of genome evolution under asexuality can indeed be found in natural populations.

Keywords

  • Animals, Gene Conversion, Genetic Variation, Insecta/genetics, Mutation Accumulation, Reproduction, Asexual, Selection, Genetic, Silent Mutation
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1668-1677
Number of pages10
JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution
Volume35
Issue number7
Early online date5 Apr 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2018
Externally publishedYes
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