Accepted_test

Parthenogenesis, a rare form of asexual reproduction in vertebrates, is notably present in the genus Darevskia, making it a valuable subject for evolutionary biology. Recent genomic studies, including those by Freitas et al. (2022), have revealed complex evolutionary pathways within Darevskia species. Comparative genomic analyses across these species offer insights into the mechanisms of parthenogenesis and the broader patterns of Squamata evolution.

High-quality draft genomes were assembled for Darevskia unisexualis, D. raddei nairensis, D. armeniaca, D. mixta, and D. valentini using Illumina, 10x Genomics, and PacBio HiFi sequencing methods. The assemblies, generated with Canu, Flye, and Hifiasm, showed excellent metrics such as N50, L50, and BUSCO scores. K-mer analysis indicated that D. armeniaca and D. unisexualis genomes are predominantly heterozygous, while others displayed lower heterozygosity, except for one D. raddei nairensis sample. Comparative analysis of conserved genes highlighted hybrid origins in one D. raddei sample and identified hemizygous loci in D. raddei and D. unisexualis, but not in D. valentini, suggesting possible translocations from autosomes to sex chromosomes.

These draft genomes provide valuable resources for research on chromosomal evolution, sex determination, and reproductive mechanisms. The heterozygosity observed in D. raddei nairensis suggests a closer relationship to D. unisexualis, necessitating further sample analysis to confirm. The varying ploidy in certain loci underscores the dynamic nature of genome evolution in Darevskia species, highlighting the need for ongoing genomic studies to fully understand these complex processes.