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The genomic basis of adaptive evolution in threespine sticklebacks.
Felicity C Jones1, Manfred G Grabherr, Yingguang Frank Chan
1Department of Developmental Biology, Beckman Center B300, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford California 94305, USA.
Nature
|April 7, 2012
Summary
Marine stickleback fish demonstrate repeated ecological adaptation through the reuse of genetic variation. This study highlights the role of regulatory changes in their adaptation to diverse environments.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genomics
- Ecology
Background:
- Threespine sticklebacks have colonized diverse aquatic environments since the last ice age.
- This provides a unique model for studying natural ecological adaptation.
- Understanding the genomic basis of adaptation is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-quality reference genome for threespine sticklebacks.
- To identify genomic loci associated with marine-freshwater divergence.
- To investigate the role of genetic variation in repeated adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Genome assembly of threespine sticklebacks.
- Whole-genome sequencing of diverse marine and freshwater populations.
- Genome-wide association studies to identify adaptive loci.
Main Results:
- A high-quality reference genome assembly was created.
- Genome-wide loci consistently associated with marine-freshwater divergence were identified.
- Reuse of standing genetic variation, including chromosomal inversions, was found to be important for adaptation.
Conclusions:
- Standing genetic variation, particularly regulatory changes, plays a key role in repeated adaptive evolution.
- This mechanism facilitates the maintenance of divergent ecotypes during early reproductive isolation.
- Regulatory changes appear to be predominant in threespine stickleback adaptation.
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