Pervasive conservation of intron number and other genetic elements revealed by a chromosome-level genomic assembly of the hyper-polymorphic nematode .

With within-species genetic diversity estimates that span the gambit of that seen across the entirety of animals, the genus of nematodes holds unique potential to provide insights into how population size and reproductive strategies influence gene and genome organization and evolution. Our study focuses on , currently known as one of the most genetically diverse nematodes within its genus and metazoan phyla. Here, we present a high-quality gapless genome assembly and annotation for , revealing a common nematode chromosome arrangement characterized by gene-dense central regions and repeat rich peripheral parts. Comparison of with other nematodes from the 'Elegans' group revealed conserved macrosynteny but a lack of microsynteny, characterized by frequent rearrangements and low correlation iof orthogroup sizes, indicative of high rates of gene turnover. We also assessed genome organization within corresponding syntenic blocks in selfing and outcrossing species, affirming that selfing species predominantly experience loss of both genes and intergenic DNA. Comparison of gene structures revealed strikingly small number of shared introns across species, yet consistent distributions of intron number and length, regardless of population size or reproductive mode, suggesting that their evolutionary dynamics are primarily reflective of functional constraints. Our study provides valuable insights into genome evolution and expands the nematode genome resources with the highly genetically diverse , facilitating research into various aspects of nematode biology and evolutionary processes.