Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway.
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway.
Proc Biol Sci. 2021 Sep 29;288(1959):20211452. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1452.
Genome-wide association studies provide good opportunities for studying the genetic basis of adaptive traits in wild populations. Yet, previous studies often failed to identify major effect genes. In this study, we used high-density single nucleotide polymorphism and individual fitness data from a wild non-model species. Using a whole-genome approach, we identified the gene as the sole causal gene underlying Arctic fox fur colour. Further, we showed the adaptive importance of fur colour genotypes through measures of fitness that link ecological and evolutionary processes. We found a tendency for blue foxes that are heterozygous at the fur colour locus to have higher fitness than homozygous white foxes. The effect of genotype on fitness was independent of winter duration but varied with prey availability, with the strongest effect in years of increasing rodent populations. is located in a genomic region with high gene density, and we discuss the potential for indirect selection through linkage and pleiotropy. Our study shows that whole-genome analyses can be successfully applied to wild species and identify major effect genes underlying adaptive traits. Furthermore, we show how this approach can be used to identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of interactions between ecology and evolution.
全基因组关联研究为研究野生种群中适应性特征的遗传基础提供了很好的机会。然而，以前的研究往往未能确定主要效应基因。在这项研究中，我们使用了来自野生非模型物种的高密度单核苷酸多态性和个体适应度数据。通过全基因组方法，我们确定了 基因是北极狐皮毛颜色的唯一因果基因。此外，我们通过将生态和进化过程联系起来的适应度衡量标准，展示了皮毛颜色基因型的适应性重要性。我们发现，在皮毛颜色基因座杂合的蓝色狐狸比纯合白色狐狸具有更高的适应度的趋势。基因型对适应度的影响独立于冬季持续时间，但随猎物的可利用性而变化，在啮齿动物种群增加的年份中影响最大。 位于一个基因密度高的基因组区域，我们讨论了通过连锁和多效性进行间接选择的可能性。我们的研究表明，全基因组分析可以成功地应用于野生物种，并确定适应性特征的主要效应基因。此外，我们展示了如何利用这种方法来确定我们对生态与进化之间相互作用的理解中的知识差距。
