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Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.Allopatric SpeciationIn allopatric speciation, gene flow between two populations of the same species is prevented by a geographic barrier, like...

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A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

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Widespread genomic divergence during sympatric speciation.

Andrew P Michel¹, Sheina Sim, Thomas H Q Powell

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN 46556-0369, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|May 12, 2010

Summary

Speciation with gene flow creates genomic islands of divergence. This study in Rhagoletis pomonella found widespread genomic divergence, suggesting "continents" of differentiation drive speciation.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Genomics
Speciation Research

Background:

Speciation with gene flow is theorized to produce isolated "genomic islands" of divergence.
This occurs when a few genes under strong selection diverge, while gene flow homogenizes the rest of the genome.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally test the "genomic islands of speciation" hypothesis.
To investigate the genomic patterns of divergence in the model organism Rhagoletis pomonella.

Main Methods:

Experimental manipulation of Rhagoletis pomonella in an overwintering experiment.
Analysis of genomic differentiation across host races and latitudinal clines.
Linkage disequilibrium analyses to infer drivers of divergence.

Main Results:

Contrary to expectations, widespread genomic divergence was observed across the Rhagoletis genome.
The majority of loci showed host differences, latitudinal clines, and associations with eclosion time.
Experimental results and linkage disequilibrium analyses indicated selection on numerous genomic regions, not genetic drift.

Conclusions:

Early stages of speciation may be characterized by "continents" of differentiated loci, not just isolated islands.
Genomic divergence is influenced by selection strength, genetic variation, linkage, and recombination-reducing features like inversions.
Genes driving speciation can be embedded within actively diverging genomes.