Evolution: Small populations, low recombination, big trouble?

Reto Burri

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.004

Evolution: Small populations, low recombination, big trouble?

Curr Biol. 2021 Mar 22;31(6):R282-R284. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.004.

Author

Reto Burri¹

Affiliation

¹ Swiss Ornithological Station, Seerose 1, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland. Electronic address: reto.burri@vogelwarte.ch.

PMID: 33756137
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.004

Abstract

Small populations harbour less genetic diversity and more harmful mutations. They thus adapt more slowly. A new study supports these notions and suggests that reduced recombination exacerbates these effects, highlighting the impact of genome architecture on adaptability.

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MeSH terms

Evolution, Molecular
Genetic Variation*
Genome
Mutation
Recombination, Genetic*