Ancient U/V sex chromosomes reveal slow expansion of recombination suppression in Polytrichaceae mosses.
Fabien Rey-Giraud, Muskaan Muskaan, Sara Oort, Alain Vanderpoorten, Nils Cronberg, Christelle Blassiau, Isabelle Charissou, Christelle Fraisse, Xavier Vekemans
This study analyzes ancient U/V sex chromosomes in Polytrichaceae mosses, showing that recombination suppression has limited SDR expansion and functional degeneration despite their 124 million-year-old origin.
bioRxiv · Nov 3, 2026 · PreprintGenomics