Stochastic changes in DNA methylation (i.e., spontaneous epimutations) contribute to methylome diversity in plants. Here, we describe AlphaBeta , a computational method for estimating the precise rate of such stochastic events using pedigree-based DNA methylation data as input. We demonstrate how AlphaBeta can be employed to study transgenerationally heritable epimutations in clonal or sexually derived mutation accumulation lines, as well as somatic epimutations in long-lived perennials. Application of our method to published and new data reveals that spontaneous epimutations accumulate neutrally at the genome-wide scale, originate mainly during somatic development and that they can be used as a molecular clock for age-dating trees.

中文翻译：

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AlphaBeta：根据植物高通量 DNA 甲基化数据计算推断表观突变率和光谱

DNA 甲基化的随机变化（即自发表突变）有助于植物甲基化组的多样性。在这里，我们描述了 AlphaBeta，一种使用基于谱系的 DNA 甲基化数据作为输入来估计此类随机事件的精确率的计算方法。我们展示了如何利用 AlphaBeta 研究克隆或有性衍生突变积累系中的跨代遗传表突变，以及长寿多年生植物的体细胞表突变。将我们的方法应用于已发表的数据和新数据表明，自发表突变在全基因组范围内中性积累，主要起源于体细胞发育过程，并且它们可以用作年龄测定树的分子时钟。