Epimutations Define a Fast-Ticking Molecular Clock in Plants.
Trends Genet
; 37(8): 699-710, 2021 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34016450
ABSTRACT
Stochastic gains and losses of DNA methylation at CG dinucleotides are a frequent occurrence in plants. These spontaneous 'epimutations' occur at a rate that is 100â¯000 times higher than the genetic mutation rate, are effectively neutral at the genome-wide scale, and are stably inherited across mitotic and meiotic cell divisions. Mathematical models have been extraordinarily successful at describing how epimutations accumulate in plant genomes over time, making this process one of the most predictable epigenetic phenomena to date. Here, we propose that their high rate and effective neutrality make epimutations a powerful new molecular clock for timing evolutionary events of the recent past and for age dating of long-lived perennials such as trees.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Seleção Genética
/
Genoma de Planta
/
Metilação de DNA
/
Epigênese Genética
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trends Genet
Assunto da revista:
GENETICA
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos