Chromosome-scale genome dynamics reveal signatures of independent haplotype evolution in the ancient asexual mite Platynothrus peltifer

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn0817
• Publication Date: 2025-01-24T18:58:38Z
• Authors: Hüsna Öztoprak; Shan Gao; Nadège Guiglielmoni; Alexander Brandt; Yichen Zheng; Mohammed Errbii; Viktoria Bednarski; Christian Becker; Kerstin Becker; Lea Borgschulte; Katharina Atsuko ...; Anne-Marie Dion-Côté; Vladislav Leonov; Linda Opherden; Satoshi Shimano; Jens Bast
• Keywords: Asexuality; Asexual reproduction; Lineage (genetic)

Some unique asexual species persist over time and contradict the consensus that sex is a prerequisite for long-term evolutionary survival. How they escape dead-end fate remains enigmatic. Here, we generated haplotype-resolved genome assembly on basis of single individual collected genomic data from worldwide populations parthenogenetic diploid oribatid mite Platynothrus peltifer to identify signatures persistence without sex. We found haplotypes diverge independently since transition asexuality at least 20 million years ago in European lineages, contrasting Japanese Canadian lineages. Multiple lines evidence indicate conservation one haplotype copy relaxed selection other ancient These findings highlight singularities mites may have contributed escaping early demise typically associated with asexuality.