6533b872fe1ef96bd12d3126

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Genome size evolution in macroparasites.

Katja PulkkinenLotta-riina Sundberg

subject

ta1184ParasitismBiologyGenomeEvolution MolecularInfectious DiseasesTaxonGenomic reductionGenome SizeEvolutionary biologyMacroparasiteParasitismMacroparasiteta1181AnimalsParasitologyParasitesDatabases Nucleic AcidGenome sizeMicroparasiteConverged evolution

description

Reduction in genome size has been associated not only with a parasitic lifestyle in intracellular microparasites but also in some macroparasitic insects and nematodes. We collected the available data on genome size for flatworms, annelids, nematodes and arthropods, compared those with available data for the phylogenetically closest free-living taxa and found evidence of smaller genome sizes for parasites in six of nine comparisons. Our results suggest that despite great differences in evolutionary history and life cycles, parasitism as a lifestyle promotes convergent genome size reduction in macroparasites. We discuss factors that could be associated with small genome size in parasites which require further exploration in the future.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2014-08-29International journal for parasitology
10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.12.007https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25724591