Genome size evolution in macroparasites.
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.
University of Jyvaskyla, Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, PO Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland; University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, PO Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. Electronic address: lotta-riina.sundberg@jyu.fi.
Lotta-Riina
LR
Sundberg
University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, PO Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Katja
K
Pulkkinen
D000818:Animals; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D059646:Genome Size; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
Converged evolution; Genome size; Genomic reduction; Macroparasite; Parasitism