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Structural Genomic Variation and Its Potential Role in Deer Speciation.
Faezeh Azimi Chetabi1, Aaron Shafer1
1Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
Molecular Ecology
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Structural variants (SVs) drive deer speciation by creating unique genomic changes. These large-scale mutations, mainly deletions and insertions, impact genes related to reproduction and adaptation, contributing to species divergence.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Biodiversity Research
Background:
- Speciation is crucial for biodiversity, and understanding its genetic basis is vital for conservation.
- Structural variants (SVs) are large genomic alterations (>50 bp) linked to adaptive divergence and reproductive isolation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of SVs in the speciation and divergence of two deer species (Odocoileus spp.).
- To identify species-specific SVs and their potential impact on adaptive evolution and reproductive isolation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multiple long-read and short-read sequencing datasets for comprehensive genomic analysis.
- Developed a bioinformatics workflow to detect and characterize SVs and associated genomic features unique to each species.
- Inferred selection on SVs using dN/dS ratios and analyzed regulatory motif content in fixed SVs.
Main Results:
- Identified numerous species-specific SVs, predominantly deletions and insertions, suggesting potential for fixation.
- Found that while most SVs were intergenic, some impacted genes, with 3 showing signs of selection.
- Observed a reduced number of regulatory motifs in fixed species-specific SVs compared to the broader genome.
- SV-affected genes were frequently associated with reproduction and sensory adaptation.
Conclusions:
- SVs play a significant role in the speciation and divergence of Odocoileus deer species.
- The identified SVs, particularly those affecting genes related to reproduction and sensory adaptation, offer insights into mechanisms of reproductive isolation and adaptive evolution.
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