Evolution of Recombination Rate
Rates of meiotic recombination vary across genomes, among individuals from the same species, and between species. Despite the central significance of recombination to evolution and genetics, the causes of this variation are poorly understood. Our laboratory is using molecular and quantitative genetics to characterize the evolution of recombination across closely related species of house mice. We are examining the evolutionary dynamics of recombination on multiple physical scales, ranging from recombination hotspots to whole-genome rates of crossing-over. We aim to identify genomic regions and genes that explain differences in recombination rate among species.
Figure. The distribution of average genomic recombination rates (cM/Mb) across the mammalian phylogeny. For more details see Dumont and Payseur (2008).
Beth Dumont is leading our research in this area.