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Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks
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Partially repeatable genetic basis of benthic adaptation in threespine sticklebacks.

Priscilla A Erickson1, Andrew M Glazer1, Emily E Killingbeck1

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|March 8, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Convergent evolution in threespine stickleback fish shows that adaptation to new environments can involve both unique and shared genetic changes. This study reveals predictable genetic underpinnings for benthic adaptation in freshwater stickleback populations.

Keywords:
Convergent evolutionQTLgenotyping-by-sequencingparallel evolutionskeleton

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Convergent adaptation to similar ecological niches is a key question in evolutionary biology.
  • Threespine stickleback fish exhibit adaptive radiation, with distinct freshwater ecotypes evolving from marine ancestors.
  • Two freshwater ecotypes, benthic and limnetic, have evolved in British Columbia lakes, specializing in different foraging niches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the extent of shared genomic regions underlying benthic adaptation in threespine stickleback.
  • To determine if adaptive evolution to similar ecological niches follows predictable genetic pathways.
  • To identify specific genes and genomic regions involved in the evolution of benthic ecotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-wide linkage mapping was employed using marine × benthic F2 genetic crosses.
  • Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis was performed to identify genomic regions influencing skeletal morphology.
  • Three distinct benthic populations from different lakes were analyzed to assess shared genetic adaptations.

Main Results:

  • At least 100 QTL influencing skeletal morphology were identified.
  • A majority of QTL (57%) were unique to individual crosses, indicating nonparallel genetic changes.
  • Four shared genomic regions, impacting eight phenotypes, were consistently found across all three benthic populations, suggesting parallel adaptation.

Conclusions:

  • Benthic adaptation in threespine stickleback involves a combination of both parallel and nonparallel genetic changes.
  • Genomic regions associated with adaptation are often clustered and show signatures of natural selection.
  • The study highlights the complex genetic architecture underlying adaptive radiation and convergent evolution.