Empirical mapping of mutation frequency across C. albicans chromosomes reveals a consistent gradient of genetic variation increasing toward chromosomal termini (Todd & Selmecki, 2020). The ERG11 locus, positioned within this gradient, experiences both stochastic and stress-induced mutation amplification. Under antifungal challenge, DNA repair mechanisms such as homologous recombination and break-induced replication are locally activated, creating a microenvironment of heightened mutagenesis. These nuclear processes are often accompanied by transient chromatin relaxation, facilitating polymerase slippage and recombination. Consequently, the telomeric gradient functions as a spatially encoded mutational amplifier, aligning the physical structure of the nucleus with evolutionary adaptability.

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