PREPRINT ALERT!
Determinants of chromosomal rearrangements in holocentric Leptidea butterflies
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Massive #chromosome reshuffling in Leptidea #butterflies reveals how satellite DNA, rDNA, and duplications—not #transposons, shape the architecture of #genomeevolution.

Wellcome Connecting Science Mutation in Time and Space (hybrid conference) Conference dates: 13-15 April 2026 Location: Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, Wellcome Genome Campus, UK In-person registration deadline: 16 March Virtual registration deadline: 6 April

🧬 Explore mutations across biological systems with field leaders at the Wellcome Genome Campus, UK

🗓️ 13-15 April 2026
📌 Register by March 16

Join the discussion on how genome evolution shapes human health and ageing.

📎 Find out more: bit.ly/4hmbnyr
#MITS26 #GenomeEvolution #TreeofLife

BMC Biology is currently welcoming submissions of original research to the “Genome organization and evolution” Collection, which I am supporting as a Guest Editor.

If interested check out the link: www.biomedcentral.com/collections/...

Deadline: 26 March

#GenomeEvolution
@bmc.springernature.com

Sex without crossovers mimics clonal reproduction in the holocentric plant Rhynchospora tenuis Meiotic recombination ensures accurate chromosome segregation and promotes genetic diversity by generating crossovers between homologous chromosomes. While essential in most sexually reproducing organisms, recombination is variably regulated and can be absent in some lineages, a condition known as achiasmy. However, obligate achiasmy in both sexes of a sexual species has not been previously documented. Here, we investigate the beak-sedge Rhynchospora tenuis, a holocentric plant with the lowest known chromosome number among flowering plants (n = 2) and inverted meiosis. Using chromosome-scale genome assemblies from nine accessions, molecular cytogenetics, immunocytochemistry, high-throughput single-gamete sequencing and whole-genome sequencing of controlled crosses, we show that R. tenuis undergoes obligate, genome-wide achiasmy in both male and female meiosis. Despite normal early meiotic axis formation, synapsis fails, crossovers are not detected cytologically or genetically, and univalents persist at metaphase I. Extensive haplotype-specific accumulation of transposable elements (TEs) generates segregation distortion (e.g. meiotic drive), favouring the transmission of larger, TE-rich chromosomes. Remarkably, sexual reproduction is retained with fertilisation producing viable seeds only when translocation-compatible gametes meet, indicating strong post-meiotic selection that eliminates incompatible homozygous combinations. As a result, all surviving offspring are genetically identical to the maternal genotype, effectively restoring heterozygosity each generation and mimicking clonal reproduction. We propose that the combined effects of recombination loss, low chromosome number, holocentricity, inverted meiosis, and selective transmission of longer chromosomes enable faithful segregation and clonal-like inheritance despite sexual reproduction. These findings challenge the boundary between sex and clonality, revealing a unique evolutionary strategy linking genome architecture, recombination loss, and transmission bias. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

3️⃣ Sex without crossovers mimics clonal reproduction in Rhynchospora tenuis

🌱 An extreme meiotic outcome: faithful segregation without crossovers in a holocentric plant.
🔗 doi.org/10.64898/202...

#Preprint #GenomeEvolution #Meiosis4eva #centromere #Pangenomics

All About Bias: Researching adaptation and genome composition in filamentous fungi DiVA portal is a finding tool for research publications and student theses written at the following 50 universities and research institutions.

All About Bias: Researching adaptation and genome composition in filamentous fungi

#Sordariales
#thermophilicfungi
#bioremediation
#adaptation
#genomeevolution

www.diva-portal.org/smash/record...

A phylogenetic estimate of canine retrotransposition rates based on genome assembly comparisons. #CanineGenomes #Retrotransposon #LINE1 #SINE #GenomeAssembly #GenomeEvolution #Genomics @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social 🧪🧬 🖥️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Our paper synthesizing discussions from the @embo.org lecture course on Evolutionary and Comparative #Genomics in now out @bioinfoadv.bsky.social
#ComparativeGenomics #GenomeEvolution

Sex chromosome evolution Dates 6-10 October 2025 To foster international participation, this course will be held online

Join our online course on Sex Chromosome Evolution (6–10 Oct) with @astridboehne.bsky.social & @idarolti.bsky.social to gain hands-on experience in genomic and transcriptomic analyses.
www.physalia-courses.org/courses-work...

#SexChromosomes #GenomeEvolution #Transcriptomics #ComparativeGenomics

A Rhodopseudomonas strain with a substantially smaller genome retains the core metabolic versatility of its genus | Applied and Environmental Microbiology Rhodopseudomonas are a cohort of phototrophic bacteria with broad metabolic versatility. Members of this group are present in diverse soil and water environments, and some strains are found associated with plants and have plant growth-promoting activity. ...

A Rhodopseudomonas strain with a substantially smaller genome retains the core metabolic versatility of its genus
#microbiology #bacteria #GenomeEvolution
@asm.org
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

BMC Biology is currently welcoming submissions of original research to the “Genome organization and evolution” Collection, which I am supporting as a Guest Editor.

If interested check out the link: www.biomedcentral.com/collections/...

#GenomeEvolution @bmc.springernature.com

🐈‍⬛ Join us on Tuesday at 11:00!
Don't miss the chance to learn about Pantera — a powerful tool that uses fast whole-genome alignment methods to advance our understanding of TEs and their roles in #genome evolution.

www.erga-biodiversity.eu/post/faster-...

#TransposableElements #GenomeEvolution

The telomere-to-telomere genome of Pucai () (Typha angustifolia L.): a distinctive semiaquatic vegetable with lignin and chlorophyll as quality characteristics Abstract. Pucai () (Typha angustifolia L.), within the Typha spp., is a distinctive semiaquatic vegetable. Lignin and chlorophyll are two crucial traits an

Assembled 207Mb T2T Pucai genome! Exp gene families, unique WGD. Aids lignin/chlorophyll study & genome evolution. #PucaiGenome #GenomeEvolution @OxfordJournals
Details: doi.org/10.1093/hr/u...

Effective population size does not explain long-term variation in genome size and transposable element content in animals

No relationship between genome size evolution and effective population in animals, and no relationship with transposable elements either. #IsemEvol #GenomeEvolution

doi.org/10.7554/eLif...

What a great way to summarize the paper in <1 min gif. Congrats @pbeldade and team!
#Wolbachia #TransposableElements #GenomeEvolution