Transgenerational chromosome repair in the asexual bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Homologous recombination is an essential DNA repair mechanism that also promotes chromosome pairing and ensures allele segregation during meiosis in sexual organisms. Here, we explore the dual function of homologous recombination in the bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga , an asexual species known for its remarkable resilience to extreme genotoxic stresses. Genomic analyses reveal that A. vaga uses meiotic recombination to promote spontaneous crossovers and gene conversion during oogenesis and to repair the genome in response to DNA damage. The data also support a model of transgenerational DNA repair, termed break-induced homologous extension repair (BIHER), in which broken chromosomes are progressively restored over multiple generations. Our findings suggest that meiotic BIHER, coupled with the holocentric structure of chromosomes, may represent a key adaptation of life in extreme environments.
Source: Science Advances
Institutions: Université Libre de Bruxelles, University of Namur, Institute of Life, Earth and Environment, Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, UCLouvain, Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution, Université Rennes 1, Université de Rennes, Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier, Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive
Language: English
Topic: DNA Repair Mechanisms
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Awards: G1474559972, G6089782091, G8823685418
OpenAlex ID: W7212314394