Geneticists have uncovered a significant whole genome duplication (WGD) event in the common ancestor of sturgeons and paddlefish, which took place prior to a major mass extinction about 200 million years ago. This duplication may have endowed these species with advantageous genetic variations, raising the possibility that similar WGDs in other lineages might have facilitated survival during extreme environmental changes. The research, led by Professor Aoife McLysaght and Dr. Anthony Redmond from Trinity College Dublin, highlights that this ancient WGD provided these fish with twice the genetic material, offering a broader base for mutations and evolutionary adaptations.
Importantly, the findings indicate that the rediploidisation process, which follows WGD, is crucial for understanding the evolutionary trajectories of species, suggesting that many other lineages might have undergone similar, unnoticed WGDs. This connection between WGDs and mass extinctions reinforces the idea that increased genetic diversity can enhance a species’ chance of adapting to environmental shifts. The study, published in Nature Communications, underscores the evolutionary significance of WGDs in shaping modern genomes and offers insight into how ancient vertebrates coped during periods of crisis.
