Effective population size does not explain long-term variation in genome size and transposable element content in animals

Effective population size does not explain long-term variation in genome size and transposable element content in animals

Animal genomes exhibit a remarkable variation in size, but the evolutionary forces responsible for such variation are still debated. As the effective population size (Nee) reflects the intensity of genetic drift, it is expected to be a key determinant of the fixation rate of nearly-neutral mutations. Accordingly, the Mutational Hazard Hypothesis postulates lineages with low Nee to have bigger genome sizes due to the accumulation of slightly dele…