Previous recombination rate estimation studies in rhesus macaques have been mostly restricted to a singular approach (e.g., using microsatellite loci). Here, we employ a bilateral method in estimating recombination rates—pedigree-based and linkage-disequilibrium-based—from whole-genome data of rhesus macaques to estimate CO and NCO recombination events and to compare contemporary and historical rates of recombination.

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Recombination is the process of exchange between maternal and paternal chromosomal segments which gives rise to new allele combinations in the offspring. The rate of recombination refers to the chances that such crossing over events will take place. Recombination is an especially important process for driving genetic diversity and therefore evolution. However, the specifics of the factors affecting the recombination frequency and how the rate itself can evolve have not been the focus of many studies in the past. The purpose of this study was to utilize sequenced genomes of parent-offspring trios of Rhesus Macaque to create a high quality dataset from which a direct, sex-specific, estimate of recombination rate can be calculated for the species.