Ancient whole-genome duplication events in plants cluster around periods of environmental upheaval and mass extinction
This study investigates the paradox of polyploidy (whole-genome duplication) in angiosperms — it is both a major evolutionary force and yet ancient polyploidy events are surprisingly rare. By constructing a genomic dataset of 470 angiosperm species and dating 132 ancient whole-genome duplication events, researchers found that these events are non-randomly distributed and cluster around major periods of environmental upheaval and mass extinctions, including the Middle Miocene Disruption, the Eocene-Oligocene Transition, the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction, and oceanic anoxic events.
Key quotes
Polyploidy, or whole-genome duplication (WGD), serves as both a significant evolutionary force and a potential evolutionary dead end, particularly among angiosperms.
Despite the prevalence of polyploid organisms, instances of ancient polyploidy are surprisingly rare, presenting a paradox that remains poorly understood.
paleopolyploidization events cluster around pivotal periods of environmental upheaval and extinction, notably the Middle Miocene Disruption, the Eocene-Oligocene Transition, the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction, and different oceanic anoxic events.
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