Repeat-induced point mutation in Neurospora crassa causes the highest known mutation rate and mutational burden of any cellular life

Background Repeat-induced point (RIP) mutation in Neurospora crassa degrades transposable elements by targeting repeats with C→T mutations. Whether RIP affects core genomic sequence in important ways is unknown. Results By parent-offspring whole genome sequencing, we estimate a mutation rate (3.38 × 10 −6 per bp per generation) that is two orders of magnitude higher than reported for any non-viral organism, with 93–98% of mutations being...