Presentation Detail

Genetics of Adaptation

Comeault, Aaron A. [1], Soria-Carrasco, Victor [1], Gompert, Zachariah [2], Farkas, Timothy E. [1], Buerkle, C. Alex  [3], Parchman, Thomas [2], Nosil, Patrik [1].

The genetic architecture of traits subject to a range of intensities of natural selection in Timema cristinae.

The genetic architecture of adaptive traits can reflect the evolutionary history of populations and also shape divergence among populations. Information on the genetic variation that underlies adaptive traits can also be used to test theoretical predictions of the genetic basis of adaptation. Despite this central role in evolution, relatively little is known regarding the genetic architecture of adaptive traits in nature, particularly for traits subject to known selection intensities. Here we quantitatively describe the genetic architecture of traits that are subject to known intensities of differential selection between host plant species in Timema cristinae stick insects. Specifically, we used phenotypic measurements of 10 traits and 211,004 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to conduct multi-locus genome-wide association mapping. We identified a modest number of SNPs that were associated with traits and sometimes explained a large proportion of trait variation. These SNPs varied in their strength of association with traits, and both major and minor effect loci were discovered. However, we found no relationship between variation in levels of divergence among traits in nature and variation in parameters describing the genetic architecture of those same traits. Our results provide a first step towards identifying loci underlying adaptation in T. cristinae. Future studies will examine the genomic location, population differentiation, and response to selection of the trait-associated SNPs described here.

1 - University of Sheffield, Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield, S. Yorkshire, S10 2TN, UK
2 - University of Wyoming, Botany, 3165 University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
3 - University Of Wyoming, Dept Of Botany, 3165, 1000 E University Ave, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Regular Oral Presentation
Session: 127
Location: Rendezvous A/Snowbird Center
Date: Tuesday, June 25th, 2013
Time: 9:00 AM
Number: 127003
Abstract ID:317
Candidate for Awards:W.D. Hamilton Award for Outstanding Student Presentation