Mutation is the source of genetic variation and the fundament of evolution. Temperature has long been suggested to have a direct impact on realized spontaneous mutation rates. If mutation rates vary in response to environmental conditions, such as the variation of the ambient temperature through space and time, they should no longer be described as species-specific constants. By combining mutation accumulation with whole-genome sequencing in a multicellular organism, we provide empirical support to reject the null hypothesis of a constant, temperature-independent mutation rate. Instead, mutation rates depended on temperature in a U-shaped manner with increasing rates toward both temperature extremes. This relation has important implications for mutation-dependent processes in molecular evolution, processes shaping the evolution of mutation rates, and even the evolution of biodiversity as such.

中文翻译：

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自发突变率的温度依赖性

突变是遗传变异的根源，是进化的基础。长期以来，人们一直认为温度对实现的自发突变率有直接影响。如果突变率随环境条件而变化，例如环境温度随空间和时间的变化，则不应再将其描述为物种特异性常数。通过将突变积累与多细胞生物中的全基因组测序相结合，我们提供了经验支持来拒绝恒定的、与温度无关的突变率的零假设。相反，突变率以 U 形方式依赖于温度，并随着两个极端温度的增加而增加。这种关系对分子进化中的突变依赖过程、塑造突变率进化的过程具有重要意义，