article published yes Kay Lucek author Mabel D. Giménez author Mathieu Joron author Marina Rafajlović author Jeremy B. Searle author Nora Walden author Anja M Westram author 3C147470-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0003-1050-4969 Rui Faria author NiBa department BeVi department Chromosomal rearrangements (CRs) have been known since almost the beginning of genetics. While an important role for CRs in speciation has been suggested, evidence primarily stems from theoretical and empirical studies focusing on the microevolutionary level (i.e., on taxon pairs where speciation is often incomplete). Although the role of CRs in eukaryotic speciation at a macroevolutionary level has been supported by associations between species diversity and rates of evolution of CRs across phylogenies, these findings are limited to a restricted range of CRs and taxa. Now that more broadly applicable and precise CR detection approaches have become available, we address the challenges in filling some of the conceptual and empirical gaps between micro- and macroevolutionary studies on the role of CRs in speciation. We synthesize what is known about the macroevolutionary impact of CRs and suggest new research avenues to overcome the pitfalls of previous studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary significance of CRs in speciation across the tree of life. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press2023 eng General BiochemistryGenetics and Molecular Biology 1943-0264 37604585 00109627260000110.1101/cshperspect.a041447 1511 Lucek, K., Giménez, M. D., Joron, M., Rafajlović, M., Searle, J. B., Walden, N., … Faria, R. (2023). The impact of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation: From micro- to macroevolution. <i>Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology</i>. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041447">https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041447</a> Lucek, Kay, Mabel D. Giménez, Mathieu Joron, Marina Rafajlović, Jeremy B. Searle, Nora Walden, Anja M Westram, and Rui Faria. “The Impact of Chromosomal Rearrangements in Speciation: From Micro- to Macroevolution.” <i>Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology</i>. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2023. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041447">https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041447</a>. Lucek, Kay, et al. “The Impact of Chromosomal Rearrangements in Speciation: From Micro- to Macroevolution.” <i>Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology</i>, vol. 15, no. 11, a041447, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2023, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041447">10.1101/cshperspect.a041447</a>. K. Lucek <i>et al.</i>, “The impact of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation: From micro- to macroevolution,” <i>Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology</i>, vol. 15, no. 11. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2023. K. Lucek, M.D. Giménez, M. Joron, M. Rafajlović, J.B. Searle, N. Walden, A.M. Westram, R. Faria, Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology 15 (2023). Lucek K, Giménez MD, Joron M, Rafajlović M, Searle JB, Walden N, Westram AM, Faria R. 2023. The impact of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation: From micro- to macroevolution. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. 15(11), a041447. Lucek K, Giménez MD, Joron M, et al. The impact of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation: From micro- to macroevolution. <i>Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology</i>. 2023;15(11). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041447">10.1101/cshperspect.a041447</a> 147422024-01-08T12:43:48Z2026-06-18T17:37:44Z