Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Using high-depth whole genome sequencing of F0 mating pairs and multiple individual F1 offspring, we estimated the nuclear mutation rate per generation in the malaria vectors <jats:italic>Anopheles coluzzii</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Anopheles stephensi</jats:italic> by detecting de novo genetic mutations. A purpose-built computer program was employed to filter actual mutations from a deep background of superficially similar artifacts resulting from read misalignment. Performance of filtering parameters was determined using software-simulated mutations, and the resulting estimate of false negative rate was used to correct final mutation rate estimates. Spontaneous mutation rates by base substitution were estimated at 1.00 × 10<jats:sup>−9</jats:sup> (95% confidence interval, 2.06 × 10<jats:sup>−10</jats:sup>—2.91 × 10<jats:sup>−9</jats:sup>) and 1.36 × 10<jats:sup>−9</jats:sup> (95% confidence interval, 4.42 × 10<jats:sup>−10</jats:sup>—3.18 × 10<jats:sup>−9</jats:sup>) per site per generation in <jats:italic>A. coluzzii</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>A. stephensi</jats:italic> respectively. Although similar studies have been performed on other insect species including dipterans, this is the first study to empirically measure mutation rates in the important genus <jats:italic>Anopheles</jats:italic>, and thus provides an estimate of µ that will be of utility for comparative evolutionary genomics, as well as for population genetic analysis of malaria vector mosquito species.</jats:p>