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A Deep-sequencing-assisted, Spontaneous Suppressor Screen in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

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Supergenes and complex phenotypes.

Tanja Schwander¹, Romain Libbrecht², Laurent Keller¹

¹Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Current Biology : CB

|April 5, 2014

Summary

Clusters of tightly linked genes, known as supergenes, regulate complex evolutionary adaptations like distinct ecotypes and behaviors. These genetic structures facilitate the co-segregation of adaptive traits within and across species.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Genomics
Molecular genetics

Background:

Modern evolutionary biology investigates the genetic basis of adaptations.
Complex phenotypes, such as locally adapted ecotypes and divergent social behaviors, are often regulated by clusters of tightly linked genes.
These gene clusters, termed 'supergenes,' maintain stable polymorphisms within and between populations, influencing ecologically relevant traits.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of supergenes in regulating complex evolutionary adaptations.
To understand the genetic architecture and evolutionary dynamics of supergenes.
To highlight the potential of genomic methods in discovering new supergenes and their associated phenotypes.

Main Methods:

Review of recent studies on supergenes and complex phenotypes.
Analysis of genetic mechanisms underlying supergene formation and maintenance.
Discussion of the implications of supergenes for species adaptation and speciation.

Main Results:

Supergenes are identified as key regulators of diverse complex phenotypes across various organisms (plants, fungi, insects, birds).
Supergenes can span large genomic regions, sometimes resembling sex chromosomes due to selection for reduced recombination.
These genetic structures enable the co-segregation of adaptive variation and can facilitate the spread of complex traits across species boundaries.

Conclusions:

Supergenes provide a genetic mechanism for the evolution and maintenance of complex adaptive phenotypes.
Genomic approaches are expected to uncover numerous additional supergenes, revealing convergent genetic architectures for similar adaptations.
Understanding supergenes is crucial for comprehending evolutionary processes, adaptation, and speciation.