The evolution of recombination landscapes – recLandscapes

Recombination rates across the genome—referred to as recombination landscapes—vary within and between species due to differences in crossover number and position during meiosis. These landscapes are heritable, can evolve readily, and influence the levels of genome-wide genetic diversity in natural populations. However, our understanding of the evolutionary forces shaping recombination landscapes remains limited. Existing theoretical models typically focus on simple scenarios where a single modifier gene affects recombination between a small number of selected loci. To better comprehend the selective forces acting on recombination landscapes in more realistic contexts, new models are necessary. Moreover, there have been few direct experimental tests of selection on modifiers of recombination landscapes. This project aims to integrate theoretical and experimental approaches to more precisely detail and measure selection on recombination landscapes, using the hermaphroditic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Building on an ongoing collaboration between partner teams, we will develop theoretical models to explore how selection on recombination modifiers depends on their genomic location and the degree of self-fertilization in individuals. In parallel, we will alter the position of a previously identified recombination modifier in C. elegans and perform evolution experiments to detect selection acting on it while manipulating the self-fertilization rates of evolving populations. This project is expected to be of great interest to evolutionary geneticists, conservation biologists, and applied geneticists, as recombination is a fundamental parameter determining the standing genetic diversity and adaptive potential of populations.