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Assessing multilocus introgression patterns: a case study on the mouse X chromosome in central Europe
Miloš Macholán1, Stuart J E Baird, Petra Dufková
1Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic. macholan@iach.cz
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|April 28, 2011
Summary
Studies of hybrid zones (HZ) reveal complex introgression patterns. New genomic analyses confirm past findings and suggest past zone movement, with evidence for genetic conflict.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Multilocus hybrid zone (HZ) studies have a long history, predating modern genomics.
- Analyzing introgression patterns along chromosomes is crucial for understanding speciation but can be complicated by linked genes and zone movement.
- Barton's concordance offers a method to assess introgression in complex geographic patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of Barton's concordance, genomic clines, and 2D geographic analyses in characterizing introgression within a house mouse hybrid zone.
- To investigate patterns of introgression along the X chromosome and their relationship to evolutionary processes.
- To identify potential speciation genes and evidence of genetic conflict.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 24 X chromosome loci from 2873 house mice in a central-European hybrid zone.
- Application of Barton's concordance, genomic clines, and two-dimensional (2D) geographic analyses.
- Comparison of results across different analytical approaches to assess introgression patterns.
Main Results:
- Two-dimensional geographic analyses revealed linear contact at 14 loci, with four showing introgression islands and two displaying westward salients, suggesting past zone movement.
- Barton's concordance successfully recovered and refined these patterns, supporting a region of reduced introgression on the central X chromosome.
- Genomic clines indicated introgression asymmetries, but interpretation was more challenging; male-biased westward introgression was noted near the X centromere.
Conclusions:
- Barton's concordance is a valuable tool for analyzing complex introgression patterns in hybrid zones.
- The study provides evidence for past hybrid zone movement and identifies specific regions with reduced introgression, potentially linked to speciation.
- Asymmetric introgression and potential genetic conflict warrant further investigation.
