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Selection for recombination in small populations.

S P Otto1, N H Barton

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. otto@zoology.ubc.ca

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|January 5, 2002
PubMed
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Genetic drift, not epistasis, drives increased recombination in small populations. This finding challenges existing hypotheses about the evolution of sex and recombination, suggesting drift is a major factor in adaptation.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics
  • Population Genetics

Background:

  • The evolutionary persistence of sexual reproduction and genetic recombination remains a significant question in biology.
  • A prominent hypothesis posits that sex and recombination enhance adaptation to changing environments.
  • Evidence from artificial selection experiments and comparative studies suggests recombination rates can increase under selection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary forces, specifically genetic drift and epistasis, that influence the evolution of recombination.
  • To compare the relative contributions of drift and epistasis to increased recombination in finite populations under strong selection.

Main Methods:

  • Simulations of finite populations subjected to strong selection.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of evolutionary forces acting on recombination rates within these simulated populations.

    • Main Results:

    • Genetic drift was found to be the predominant force favoring increased recombination in small to moderately large populations.
    • Epistasis played a secondary role in promoting recombination, particularly when populations were not sufficiently large.
    • These findings contrast with the expectation that epistasis is the primary driver of recombination evolution under selection.

    Conclusions:

    • Genetic drift is a major factor in the evolution of increased recombination, especially in finite populations.
    • The role of epistasis in driving recombination may be less significant than previously assumed, particularly in smaller populations.
    • Understanding the interplay between drift, selection, and recombination is crucial for explaining the maintenance of sex in nature.