An evolutionary view of human recombination.
Recombination has essential functions in mammalian meiosis, which impose several constraints on the recombination process. However, recent studies have shown that, in spite of these roles, recombination rates vary tremendously among humans, and show marked differences between humans and closely related species. These findings provide important insights into the determinants of recombination rates and raise new questions about the selective pressures that affect recombination over different genomic scales, with implications for human genetics and evolutionary biology.
Coop
Graham
G
Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, 920 East 58th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Przeworski
Molly
M
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic; D005260:Female; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D008540:Meiosis; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013045:Species Specificity