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Somatic genetic drift and multilevel selection in a clonal seagrass
Lei Yu1, Christoffer Boström2, Sören Franzenburg3
1GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Kiel, Germany.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
|May 13, 2020
Summary
Clonal seagrasses accumulate genetic differences as they grow, leading to unique modules. This somatic genetic drift creates individuality and drives evolution in long-lived clonal species.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Marine Biology
Background:
- Multicellular organisms are genetic mosaics due to somatic mutations.
- Somatic genetic variation accumulates during clonal reproduction, potentially causing phenotypic differences among modules (ramets).
- The dynamics of somatic genetic variation in clonal species are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the abundance and dynamics of somatic genetic variation in clonal seagrass (Zostera marina).
- To understand the role of somatic genetic drift in generating genetic differentiation among ramets.
- To explore the implications for selection and individuality in long-lived clonal organisms.
Main Methods:
- Studied inter-ramet somatic genetic variation in Zostera marina.
- Utilized ultra-deep resequencing of single ramets.
- Analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to assess genetic differentiation.
Main Results:
- Identified thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) segregating among ramets.
- Demonstrated that branching events cause population bottlenecks, leading to somatic genetic drift.
- Found stronger purifying selection within ramets compared to among ramets.
Conclusions:
- Somatic genetic drift during clonal propagation leads to genetically distinct modules (ramets).
- This process establishes an elementary level of selection and individuality in long-lived clonal species.
- Provides evidence for multiple levels of selection in the evolution of seagrass genets.
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