A glance at recombination hotspots in the domestic cat

Recombination has essential roles in increasing genetic variability within a population and in ensuring successful meiotic events. The objective of this study is to (i) infer the population scaled recombination rate ( ρ ), and (ii) identify and characterize localities of increased recombination rate for the domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus. SNPs ( n = 701) were genotyped in twenty-two cats of Eastern random bred origin. The SNPs covered ten different chromosomal regions (A1, A2, B3, C2, D1, D2, D4, E2, F2, X) with an average region size of 850 Kb and an average SNP density of 70 SNPs/region. The Bayesian method in the program inferRho was used to infer regional population recombination rates and hotspots localities. The regions exhibited variable population recombination rates and four decisive recombination hotspots were identified on cat chromosome A2, D1, and E2 regions. No correlation was detected between the GC content and the locality of recombination spots. The hotspots enclosed L2 LINE elements and MIR and tRNA-Lys SINE elements in agreement with hotspots found in other mammals.