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Evolutionary adaptations generally reverse phenotypic plasticity to restore ancestral phenotypes during new
Qiang Jiang1,2, Li Zhu3, Hao Zeng3
1Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China.
Ecology and Evolution
|June 6, 2024
Summary
Phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary adaptation help populations adjust to environmental changes. This study shows that while evolution drives highland adaptation in cattle, plasticity helps them revert to ancestral traits when returning to lowlands.
Area of Science:
- Animal physiology
- Evolutionary biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary adaptation are key mechanisms for populations to cope with environmental shifts.
- The interplay between plasticity and evolution in adaptation remains a subject of scientific debate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the roles of evolutionary processes and phenotypic plasticity in driving phenotypic and transcriptomic changes in cattle adapting to different environments.
- To understand the relationship between genetic and plastic changes during adaptation to the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent lowlands.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a reciprocal transplant experiment involving cattle populations from the Tibetan Plateau and lowlands.
- Analyzed both phenotypic and transcriptomic data to assess adaptation mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Significant transcriptomic changes occurred during adaptation to highland environments.
- Phenotypic plasticity primarily drove transcriptomic adjustments when cattle were reintroduced to lowland habitats.
- Genes and phenotypes exhibited a trend of reverting to ancestral states during adaptation, indicating a widespread evolutionary pattern.
Conclusions:
- Evolutionary adaptation and phenotypic plasticity play distinct but complementary roles in environmental adaptation.
- The restoration of ancestral phenotypes is a significant evolutionary trend in cattle adapting to new environments.
- Findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms of adaptation in mammals.
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