New Perspectives on the Evolution of Within-Individual Genome Variation and Germline/Soma Distinction.

Genomes can vary significantly even within the same individual. The underlying mechanisms are manifold, ranging from somatic mutation and recombination, development-associated ploidy changes and genetic bottlenecks, over to programmed DNA elimination during germline/soma differentiation. In this perspective piece, we briefly review recent developments in the study of within-individual genome variation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. We highlight a Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution 2020 virtual symposium entitled "Within-individual genome variation and germline/soma distinction" and the present Special Section of the same name in Genome Biology and Evolution, together fostering cross-taxon synergies in the field to identify and tackle key open questions in the understanding of within-individual genome variation. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Citation

Alexander Suh, Anne-Marie Dion-Côté. New Perspectives on the Evolution of Within-Individual Genome Variation and Germline/Soma Distinction. Genome biology and evolution. 2021 Jun 08;13(6)

PMID: 33963843

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