Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
Published on: February 3, 2023
Genome-wide effects of long-term divergent selection
Anna M Johansson1, Mats E Pettersson, Paul B Siegel
1Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Genetic selection dramatically reshaped chicken genomes, causing significant body weight differences. This study reveals widespread genomic changes across hundreds of loci, highlighting the exploitation of existing genetic variation for rapid phenotypic evolution.
Area of Science:
- Animal Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Quantitative Genetics
Background:
- Understanding genetic mechanisms driving phenotypic differentiation is crucial.
- Selection experiments provide insights into adaptive evolution and genetic architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genomic regions under selection in chicken lines divergently selected for body weight.
- To investigate the genetic basis of rapid phenotypic evolution over 50 generations.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide scan using nearly 60,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers.
- Analysis of allele frequency differences between two chicken lines subjected to long-term divergent selection.
Main Results:
- Selection resulted in fixation of alternative alleles in over 50 genomic regions.
- Evidence for ongoing differentiation was observed in 10 additional regions.
- Hundreds of loci across the genome showed substantial allele frequency shifts, indicating widespread genetic variation exploitation.
Conclusions:
- Fifty generations of selection for body weight caused dramatic genomic changes in chicken lines.
- Phenotypic evolution is driven by the utilization of standing genetic variation at numerous loci.
- The study elucidates the genetic architecture underlying rapid adaptation and phenotypic divergence.
More Related Videos
15:00Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
Published on: August 18, 2023
10:08Genetic Mapping of Thermotolerance Differences Between Species of Saccharomyces Yeast via Genome-Wide Reciprocal Hemizygosity Analysis
Published on: August 12, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Genetic Drift
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
In contrast, regions which code...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
In contrast, regions which code...
Evolution of Microbial Genome
Frequency-dependent Selection