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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.

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|April 7, 2012
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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.

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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.