Repeat-sequence turnover shifts fundamentally in species with large genomes.
Nat Plants
; 6(11): 1325-1329, 2020 11.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33077876
ABSTRACT
Given the 2,400-fold range of genome sizes (0.06-148.9 Gbp (gigabase pair)) of seed plants (angiosperms and gymnosperms) with a broadly similar gene content (amounting to approximately 0.03 Gbp), the repeat-sequence content of the genome might be expected to increase with genome size, resulting in the largest genomes consisting almost entirely of repetitive sequences. Here we test this prediction, using the same bioinformatic approach for 101 species to ensure consistency in what constitutes a repeat. We reveal a fundamental change in repeat turnover in genomes above around 10 Gbp, such that species with the largest genomes are only about 55% repetitive. Given that genome size influences many plant traits, habits and life strategies, this fundamental shift in repeat dynamics is likely to affect the evolutionary trajectory of species lineages.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
/
Genome, Plant
Language:
En
Year:
2020
Type:
Article