{
  "abstract": "Chromosomal rearrangements reshape genome architecture, but rate variation across the tree of life remains poorly understood. Analysing 338 beetle (Coleoptera) genomes, we inferred eight ancestral linkage groups. No species retained these linkage groups, whereas the most frequent karyotypes of 10 or 11 chromosomes evolved at least 65 times through independent rearrangements. Rearrangement rates vary widely across lineages, with exceptionally high rates associated with major species radiations. Comparisons to 340 fly and 210 butterfly and moth genomes reveal the highest rates of long-term persistent rearrangements in beetles and that the beetle X chromosome traces back to the ancestor of Holometabola. We identified frequent X chromosome changes, mostly representing recent autosomal-X fusions, but no fissions. For autosomes, key rearrangement predictors include chromosome size, repeats and centromere position.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Darwin College, University of Cambridge; Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EU, United Kingdom",
    "Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute; Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom",
    "Trinity College, University of Cambridge; Trinity Street, Cambridge CB2 1TQ, United Kingdom",
    "Center for Biodiversity Research, University of Memphis; Memphis TN 38152, United States of America",
    "Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis; Memphis TN 38152, United States of America",
    "Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge; Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Arif Maulana",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1968-4575"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Aleksandra Bliznina",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5031-8023"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Sam Ebdon",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9321-4686"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jessica A. Thomas",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2302-2387"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Julia Gries",
      "orcid": "0009-0004-8679-0708"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Karin Näsvall",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2970-4189"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Duane D. McKenna",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7823-8727"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ksenia Krasheninnikova",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0604-2047"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Camilla A. Santos",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4885-901X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Karen Brooks",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-6337-8137"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Dominic E. Absolon",
      "orcid": "0009-0004-5709-2249"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Danil Zilov",
      "orcid": "0009-0000-8623-2897"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Kamil S. Jaroň",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1470-5450"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Joana I. Meier",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7726-2875"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4yvs61bs6dep0.bib",
  "cited_by": 12,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.07.17.739156",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "4yvs61bs6dep0",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.17.739156",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1110|Chromosomal and Genetic Variations"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7170033669",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2026/07/22/2026.07.17.739156.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-07-22",
  "publisher": "Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4yvs61bs6dep0.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:26:50Z",
      "native_id": "W7170033669",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.17.739156"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1110|Chromosomal and Genetic Variations",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "338 coleopteran genomes reveal exceptional rearrangement variation compared to other insect orders",
  "title_text": "338 coleopteran genomes reveal exceptional rearrangement variation compared to other insect orders",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T13:21:08Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4yvs61bs6dep0",
  "venue": "bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)",
  "versions": []
}