scholarly journals THE EVOLUTION OF SELECTIVELY SIMILAR ELECTRO-PHORETICALLY DETECTABLE ALLELES IN FINITE NATURAL POPULATIONS

Genetics ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-394
Author(s):  
C F Wehrhahn
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Generating Functions ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Net Charge ◽  
Electrophoretic Variants ◽  
Allelic State ◽  
Competing Hypotheses ◽  
State Difference ◽  
General Method

Abstract Most of the models of population genetics are not realistic when applied to data on electrophoretic variants of proteins because the same net charge may result from any of several amino acid combinations. In the absence of realistic models they have, however, been widely used to test competing hypotheses about the origin and maintenance of genetic variation in populations. In this paper I present a general method for determining probability generating functions for electrophoretic state differences. Then I use the method to find allelic state difference distributions for selectively similar electrophoretically detectable alleles in finite natural populations. Predicted patterns of genetic variation, both within and among species, are in reasonable accord with those found in the Drosophila willistoni group by Ayala et al. (1972) and by Ayala and Tracey (1974).

scholarly journals The Population Genetics of Ploidy Change in Fungi

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleeza C. Gerstein ◽  
Nathaniel Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Random Genetic Drift ◽  
Lab Experiments ◽  
History Of

Ploidy is a significant type of genetic variation, describing the number of chromosome sets per cell. Ploidy evolves in natural populations, clinical populations, and lab experiments, particularly in fungi. Despite a long history of theoretical work on this topic, predicting how ploidy will evolve has proven difficult, as it is often unclear why one ploidy state outperforms another. Here, we review what is known about contemporary ploidy evolution in diverse fungal species through the lens of population genetics. As with typical genetic variants, ploidy evolution depends on the rate that new ploidy states arise by mutation, natural selection on alternative ploidy states, and random genetic drift. However, ploidy variation also has unique impacts on evolution, with the potential to alter chromosomal stability, the rate and patterns of point mutation, and the nature of selection on all loci in the genome. We discuss how ploidy evolution depends on these general and unique factors and highlight areas where additional experimental evidence is required to comprehensively explain the ploidy transitions observed in the field and the lab.

The population genetics of ploidy change in unicellular fungi

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleeza C Gerstein ◽  
Nathaniel P Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Random Genetic Drift ◽  
Lab Experiments ◽  
History Of

Abstract Changes in ploidy are a significant type of genetic variation, describing the number of chromosome sets per cell. Ploidy evolves in natural populations, clinical populations, and lab experiments, particularly in fungi. Despite a long history of theoretical work on this topic, predicting how ploidy will evolve has proven difficult, as it is often unclear why one ploidy state outperforms another. Here, we review what is known about contemporary ploidy evolution in diverse fungal species through the lens of population genetics. As with typical genetic variants, ploidy evolution depends on the rate that new ploidy states arise by mutation, natural selection on alternative ploidy states, and random genetic drift. However, ploidy variation also has unique impacts on evolution, with the potential to alter chromosomal stability, the rate and patterns of point mutation, and the nature of selection on all loci in the genome. We discuss how ploidy evolution depends on these general and unique factors and highlight areas where additional experimental evidence is required to comprehensively explain the ploidy transitions observed in the field and the lab.

scholarly journals POPULATION GENETICS OF ALLOZYME VARIATION IN NEUROSPORA INTERMEDIA

Genetics ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 785-805
Author(s):  
P T Spieth
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Vegetative Reproduction ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Allozyme Variation ◽  
Regular Feature ◽  
Local Populations ◽  
Neurospora Intermedia ◽  
Pattern Of Variation ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACT Electrophoretically detectable variation in the fungus Neurospora intermedia has been surveyed among isolates from natural populations in Malaya, Papua, Australia and Florida. The principal result is a pattern of genetic variation within and between populations that is qualitatively no different than the well documented patterns for Drosophila and humans. In particular, there is a high level of genetic variation, the majority of which occurs at the level of local populations. Evidence is presented which argues that N. intermedia has a population structure analogous to that of an annual vascular plant with a high level of vegetative reproduction. Sexual reproduction appears to be a regular feature in the biology of the species. Substantial heterokaryon function seems unlikely in natural populations of N. intermedia. Theoretical considerations concerning the mechanisms underlying the observed pattern of variation most likely should be consistent with haploid selection theory. The implications of this constraint upon the theory are discussed in detail, leading to the presentation of a model based upon the concept of environmental heterogeneity. The essence of the model, which is equally applicable to haploid and diploid situations, is a shifting distribution of multiple adaptive niches among local populations such that a given population has a small net selective pressure in favor of one allele or another, depending upon its particular distribution of niches. Gene flow among neighboring populations with differing net selective pressures is postulated as the principal factor underlying intrapopulational allozyme variation.

scholarly journals Female Genotypes Affect Sperm Displacement in Drosophila

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 1487-1493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G Clark ◽  
David J Begun
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Isogenic Line ◽  
Female Fitness ◽  
Sperm Displacement ◽  
Extensive Variation ◽  
Polymorphic Genes ◽  
Displacement Parameter ◽  
Competitive Success

Abstract Differential success of sperm is likely to be an important component of fitness. Extensive variation among male genotypes in competitive success of sperm in multiply mated females has been documented for Drosophila melanogaster. However, virtually all previous studies considered the female to be a passive vessel. Nevertheless, under certain conditions female fitness could be determined by her role in mediating use of sperm from multiple males. Here we ask whether females differ among genotypes in their tendency to exhibit last-male precedence. Competition of sperm from two tester male genotypes (bwD and B3-09, a third-chromosome isogenic line from Beltsville, MD) was quantified by doubly mating female lines that had been rendered homozygous for X, second, or third chromosomes isolated from natural populations. The composite sperm displacement parameter, P2′, was highly heterogeneous among lines, whether or not viability effects were compensated, implying the presence of polymorphic genes affecting access of sperm to eggs. Genetic variation of this type is completely neutral in the absence of pleiotropy or interaction between variation in the two sexes.

scholarly journals Genetic variation in the dietary sucrose modulation of enzyme activities in Drosophila melanogaster

1984 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billy W. Geer ◽  
Cathy C. Laurie-Ahlberg
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Enzyme Activities ◽  
Glycogen Synthesis ◽  
Krebs Cycle ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Substitution Lines ◽  
Chromosome Substitution Lines ◽  
High Sucrose Diet ◽  
Selection Of

SUMMARYGenetic variation in the modulating effect of dietary sucrose was assessed in Drosophila melanogaster by examining 27 chromosome substitution lines coisogenic for the X and second chromosomes and possessing different third isogenic chromosomes derived from natural populations. An increase in the concentration of sucrose from 0·1% to 5% in modified Sang's medium C significantly altered the activities of 11 of 15 enzyme activities in third instar larvae, indicating that dietary sucrose modulates many, but not all, of the enzymes of D. melanogaster. A high sucrose diet promoted high activities of enzymes associated with lipid and glycogen synthesis and low activities of enzymes of the glycolytic and Krebs cycle pathways, reflecting the physiological requirements of the animal. Analyses of variance revealed significant genetic variation in the degrees to which sucrose modulated several enzyme activities. Analysis of correlations revealed some relationships between enzymes in the genetic effects on the modulation process. These observations suggest that adaptive evolutionary change may depend in part on the selection of enzyme activity modifiers that are distributed throughout the genome.

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