학술논문
Low mutation rate in epaulette sharks is consistent with a slow rate of evolution in sharks
Document Type
Original Paper
Author
Sendell-Price, Ashley T.; Tulenko, Frank J.; Pettersson, Mats; Kang, Du; Montandon, Margo; Winkler, Sylke; Kulb, Kathleen; Naylor, Gavin P.; Phillippy, Adam; Fedrigo, Olivier; Mountcastle, Jacquelyn; Balacco, Jennifer R.; Dutra, Amalia; Dale, Rebecca E.; Haase, Bettina; Jarvis, Erich D.; Myers, Gene; Burgess, Shawn M.; Currie, Peter D.; Andersson, Leif; Schartl, Manfred
Source
Nature Communications. 14(1)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
2041-1723
Abstract
Sharks occupy diverse ecological niches and play critical roles in marine ecosystems, often acting as apex predators. They are considered a slow-evolving lineage and have been suggested to exhibit exceptionally low cancer rates. These two features could be explained by a low nuclear mutation rate. Here, we provide a direct estimate of the nuclear mutation rate in the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum). We generate a high-quality reference genome, and resequence the whole genomes of parents and nine offspring to detect de novo mutations. Using stringent criteria, we estimate a mutation rate of 7×10−10 per base pair, per generation. This represents one of the lowest directly estimated mutation rates for any vertebrate clade, indicating that this basal vertebrate group is indeed a slowly evolving lineage whose ability to restore genetic diversity following a sustained population bottleneck may be hampered by a low mutation rate.
Mutations provide the genetic variability required for evolutionary change. Here, using pedigree-based whole genome sequencing, the authors determine that the Epaulette shark appears to have the lowest mutation rate identified in a vertebrate, providing a potential explanation for slow evolution in the shark lineage.
Mutations provide the genetic variability required for evolutionary change. Here, using pedigree-based whole genome sequencing, the authors determine that the Epaulette shark appears to have the lowest mutation rate identified in a vertebrate, providing a potential explanation for slow evolution in the shark lineage.