Mutations in meiotic recombination hotspots

Meiotic recombination hotspots are areas in our DNA where genetic material is exchanged between chromosomes during reproduction. These hotspots evolve quickly and accumulate new mutations, which likely result during repair DNA in meiosis. However, we believe that the unique DNA sequences in recombination hotspots may also play a significant role in generating these mutations. Further, most studies have analyzed humans, leaving us with limited understanding of how meiosis leads to mutations in other organisms. In this project, we plan to gain a better understanding of the mutations that occur at recombination hotspots using error-corrected, highly parallel sequencing. This method is highly precise and can detect even the rarest of mutations. We will analyze a large number of meiotic yeast cells and sample mutations to identify the processes that drive these changes. By comparing recombination hotspots with less active areas of the genome, as well as cells undergoing a different type of cell division such as mitosis, we aim to gain information on whether these events are specific to recombination hotpots and occur exclusively in meiosis. This research combines state-of-the-art techniques in mutagenesis, recombination, and single-mutation analysis to improve our understanding of how mutations occur during meiosis. In addition, this research will provide valuable insights into how our DNA evolves during reproduction, with potential implications for understanding mutation-related diseases.