Xiao Dong
justdx.bsky.social
Xiao Dong
@justdx.bsky.social
PhD candidate at MPIPZ
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Simulations using just these small mutations recreated large-scale repeat structures, like higher-order repeats and long-range homology.

Big architecture from tiny edits.
June 5, 2025 at 8:47 AM
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Key findings:
• Point mutations occur 9× faster in centromeres than elsewhere
• Non-allelic gene conversions copy sequences between repeats
• In-frame indels preserve repeat structure
→ All without large rearrangements
June 5, 2025 at 8:47 AM
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Centromeres are full of repetitive satellite DNA, often megabases long, but how do they evolve?

Using Arabidopsis mutation accumulation lines, we tracked real-time mutation patterns in these regions.
June 5, 2025 at 8:47 AM