DIGGING IN: DIVERSITY, DISPARITY, AND THE REPEATED EVOLUTION OF THE BORING HABIT IN THE MARINE BIVALVIA

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie S. Collins ◽  
◽  
Stewart M. Edie ◽  
Tingran Gao ◽  
Rudiger Bieler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Evolution

scholarly journals An evolutionary genomic approach reveals both conserved and species-specific genetic elements related to human disease in closely related Aspergillus fungi

Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew E Mead ◽  
Jacob L Steenwyk ◽  
Lilian P Silva ◽  
Patrícia A de Castro ◽  
Nauman Saeed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Disease ◽  
Evolutionary Rate ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Genetic Elements ◽  
Genomic Approach ◽  
Evolutionary Genomic ◽  
Repeated Evolution ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Encoding Genes

Abstract Aspergillosis is an important opportunistic human disease caused by filamentous fungi in the genus Aspergillus. Roughly 70% of infections are caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, with the rest stemming from approximately a dozen other Aspergillus species. Several of these pathogens are closely related to A. fumigatus and belong in the same taxonomic section, section Fumigati. Pathogenic species are frequently most closely related to non-pathogenic ones, suggesting Aspergillus pathogenicity evolved multiple times independently. To understand the repeated evolution of Aspergillus pathogenicity, we performed comparative genomic analyses on 18 strains from 13 species, including 8 species in section Fumigati, which aimed to identify genes, both ones previously connected to virulence as well as ones never before implicated, whose evolution differs between pathogens and non-pathogens. We found that most genes were present in all species, including approximately half of those previously connected to virulence, but a few genes were section- or species-specific. Evolutionary rate analyses identified over 1,700 genes whose evolutionary rate differed between pathogens and non-pathogens and dozens of genes whose rates differed between specific pathogens and the rest of the taxa. Functional testing of deletion mutants of 17 transcription factor-encoding genes whose evolution differed between pathogens and non-pathogens identified eight genes that affect either fungal survival in a model of phagocytic killing, host survival in an animal model of fungal disease, or both. These results suggest that the evolution of pathogenicity in Aspergillus involved both conserved and species-specific genetic elements, illustrating how an evolutionary genomic approach informs the study of fungal disease.

scholarly journals Global patterns in genomic diversity underpinning the evolution of insecticide resistance in the aphid crop pest Myzus persicae

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumar Saurabh Singh ◽  
Erick M. G. Cordeiro ◽  
Bartlomiej J. Troczka ◽  
Adam Pym ◽  
Joanna Mackisack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Myzus Persicae ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Host Plant Adaptation ◽  
Repeated Evolution ◽  
Evolution Of Resistance ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Clonal Lines

AbstractThe aphid Myzus persicae is a destructive agricultural pest that displays an exceptional ability to develop resistance to both natural and synthetic insecticides. To investigate the evolution of resistance in this species we generated a chromosome-scale genome assembly and living panel of >110 fully sequenced globally sampled clonal lines. Our analyses reveal a remarkable diversity of resistance mutations segregating in global populations of M. persicae. We show that the emergence and spread of these mechanisms is influenced by host–plant associations, uncovering the widespread co‐option of a host-plant adaptation that also offers resistance against synthetic insecticides. We identify both the repeated evolution of independent resistance mutations at the same locus, and multiple instances of the evolution of novel resistance mechanisms against key insecticides. Our findings provide fundamental insights into the genomic responses of global insect populations to strong selective forces, and hold practical relevance for the control of pests and parasites.

scholarly journals Variation in pleiotropic hub gene expression is associated with interspecific differences in head shape and eye size in Drosophila

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Buchberger ◽  
Anıl Bilen ◽  
Sanem Ayaz ◽  
David Salamanca ◽  
Cristina Matas de las Heras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Variation ◽  
Compound Eye ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Network Evolution ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Eye Size ◽  
Recurrent Mutations ◽  
Repeated Evolution

Abstract Revealing the mechanisms underlying the breath-taking morphological diversity observed in nature is a major challenge in Biology. It has been established that recurrent mutations in hotspot genes cause the repeated evolution of morphological traits, such as body pigmentation or the gain and loss of structures. To date, however, it remains elusive whether hotspot genes contribute to natural variation in the size and shape of organs. Since natural variation in head morphology is pervasive in Drosophila, we studied the molecular and developmental basis of differences in compound eye size and head shape in two closely related Drosophila species. We show differences in the progression of retinal differentiation between species and we applied comparative transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility data to identify the GATA transcription factor Pannier (Pnr) as central factor associated with these differences. Although the genetic manipulation of Pnr affected multiple aspects of dorsal head development, the effect of natural variation is restricted to a subset of the phenotypic space. We present data suggesting that this developmental constraint is caused by the co-evolution of expression of pnr and its co-factor u-shaped (ush). We propose that natural variation in expression or function of highly connected developmental regulators with pleiotropic functions is a major driver for morphological evolution and we discuss implications on gene regulatory network evolution. In comparison to previous findings, our data strongly suggests that evolutionary hotspots are not the only contributors to the repeated evolution of eye size and head shape in Drosophila.

Repeated Evolution of Fused Thoracic Vertebrae in Songbirds

The Auk ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 862-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen F. James
Keyword(s):  
Thoracic Vertebrae ◽  
Repeated Evolution

scholarly journals Repeated evolution of asymmetric genitalia and right-sided mating behavior in theDrosophila nannopteraspecies group

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Acurio ◽  
Flor T. Rhebergen ◽  
Sarah Paulus ◽  
Virginie Courtier-Orgogozo ◽  
Michael Lang
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Current Data ◽  
The Other ◽  
Genital Morphology ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Outgroup Species ◽  
Repeated Evolution ◽  
Drosophila Pachea ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Group Species

AbstractBackgroundMale genitals have repeatedly evolved left-right asymmetries, and the causes of such evolution remain unclear. TheDrosophila nannopteragroup contains four species, among which three exhibit left-right asymmetries of distinct genital organs. In the most studied species,Drosophila pachea, males display asymmetric genital lobes and they mate right-sided on top of the female. Copulation position of the other species is unknown.ResultsTo assess whether the evolution of genital asymmetry could be linked to the evolution of one-sided mating, we examined phallus morphology and copulation position inD. pacheaand closely related species. The phallus was found to be symmetric in all investigated species exceptD. pachea, which display an asymmetric phallus with a right-sided gonopore, andD. acanthoptera, which harbor an asymmetrically bent phallus. In all examined species, males were found to position themselves symmetrically on top of the female, except inD. pacheaandD. nannoptera, where males mated right-sided, in distinctive, species-specific positions. In addition, the copulation duration was found to be increased innannopteragroup species compared to closely related outgroup species.ConclusionOur study shows that gains, and possibly losses, of asymmetry in genital morphology and mating position have evolved repeatedly in thenannopteragroup. Current data does not allow us to conclude whether genital asymmetry has evolved in response to changes in mating position, or vice versa.

scholarly journals Parallel evolution and ecological selection: replicated character displacement in spadefoot toads

2009 ◽  
Vol 276 (1676) ◽  
pp. 4189-4196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber M. Rice ◽  
Aaron R. Leichty ◽  
David W. Pfennig
Keyword(s):  
Resource Competition ◽  
Parallel Evolution ◽  
Character Displacement ◽  
Population History ◽  
Ancestral Population ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Trait Evolution ◽  
Ecological Selection ◽  
Spadefoot Toads ◽  
Repeated Evolution

Ecological character displacement—trait evolution stemming from selection to lessen resource competition between species—is most often inferred from a pattern in which species differ in resource-use traits in sympatry but not in allopatry, and in which sympatric populations within each species differ from conspecific allopatric populations. Yet, without information on population history, the presence of a divergent phenotype in multiple sympatric populations does not necessarily imply that there has been repeated evolution of character displacement. Instead, such a pattern may arise if there has been character displacement in a single ancestral population, followed by gene flow carrying the divergent phenotype into multiple, derived, sympatric populations. Here, we evaluate the likelihood of such historical events versus ongoing ecological selection in generating divergence in trophic morphology between multiple populations of spadefoot toad ( Spea multiplicata ) tadpoles that are in sympatry with a heterospecific and those that are in allopatry. We present both phylogenetic and population genetic evidence indicating that the same divergent trait, which minimizes resource competition with the heterospecific, has arisen independently in multiple sympatric populations. These data, therefore, provide strong indirect support for competition's role in divergent trait evolution.

Repeated evolution of an undescribed morphotype of Rhagada (Gastropoda : Camaenidae) from the inland Pilbara, Western Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoë R. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Shell Morphology ◽  
16S Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Broad Distribution ◽  
Mitochondrial Coi ◽  
Coastal Species ◽  
Repeated Evolution ◽  
Harsh Conditions

An undescribed small, banded morphotype of Rhagada land snails occurs widely in the rocky inland Pilbara region, Western Australia. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes revealed that this novel morphotype is polyphyletic, comprising four distinct major clades, with divergences up to 21.4% at COI. These clades are apparently morphologically cryptic, with no obvious shell differences. Two of these species are associated with the major clade of Rhagada in the Pilbara mainland, one of which appears to be a variant of the larger, more globose species R. pilbarana, which occurs within 20km proximity. The other two small, banded species are phylogenetically distinct from each other and all other known Rhagada. This small, banded morphotype shows evidence for both plesiomorphy and homoplasy. The morphotype has evolved independently at least twice, and is associated with the reasonably uniform habitat and harsh conditions in the elevated hinterland of the inland Pilbara. The broad distribution of the inland, small, banded morphotype conforms to the pattern of broad-scale uniformity of shells of the more coastal species of Rhagada. Its repeated evolution, however, confirms that the morphological uniformity is not simply because of common ancestry, supporting the theory that shell form in Rhagada is adapted to a broadly homogenous environment. Shell morphology in this genus has been demonstrated on more than one occasion to have the potential to adapt to different available environments, and hence shells should be used with a degree of caution for taxonomic interpretation.

scholarly journals Fragile DNA contributes to repeated evolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudius F. Kratochwil ◽  
Axel Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Evolution
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