Genetic analysis of cavefish reveals molecular convergence in the evolution of albinism
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Publication Date
December 2005
Abstract
The genetic basis of vertebrate morphological evolution has traditionally been very difficult to examine in naturally occurring populations. Here we describe the generation of a genome-wide linksage map to allow quantitative trait analysis of evolutionarily derived morphologies in the Mexican cave tetra, a species that has, in a series of independent caves, repeatedly evolved specialized characteristics adapted to a unique and well-studied ecological environment. We focused on the trait of albinism and discovered that it is linksed to Oca2, a known pigmentation gene, in two cave populations. We found different deletions in Oca2 in each population and, using a cell-based assay, showed that both cause loss of function of the corresponding protein, OCA2. Thus, the two cave populations evolved albinism independently, through similar mutational events.
Document Type
Article
Notes
Nature Genetics, Vol. 38 (2005-12-11).
Identifier
SFS0069775_00001
Recommended Citation
Protas, Meredith E.; Hersey, Candace; and Kochanek, Dawn, "Genetic analysis of cavefish reveals molecular convergence in the evolution of albinism" (2005). KIP Articles. 1990.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/1990
