Inferring evolutionary dynamics of mutation rates through the lens of mutation spectrum variation.

Inferring evolutionary dynamics of mutation rates through the lens of mutation spectrum variation. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2020 Jun 30;62:50-57 Authors: Carlson J, DeWitt WS, Harris K Abstract There are many possible failure points in the transmission of genetic information that can produce heritable germline mutations. Once a mutation has been passed from parents to offspring for several generations, it can be difficult or impossible to identify its root cause; however, sometimes the nature of the ancestral and derived DNA sequences can provide mechanistic clues about a genetic change that happened hundreds or thousands of generations ago. Here, we review evidence that the sequence context 'spectrum' of germline mutagenesis has been evolving surprisingly rapidly over the history of humans and other species. We go on to discuss possible causal factors that might underlie rapid mutation spectrum evolution. PMID: 32619789 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Current Opinion in Genetics and Development - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Curr Opin Genet Dev Source Type: research
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