The cavefish genome reveals candidate genes for eye loss

Author

Suzanne E. McGaugh
Joshua B. Gross
Bronwen Aken

Files

Publication Date

October 2014

Abstract

Natural populations subjected to strong environmental selection pressures offer a window into the genetic underpinnings of evolutionary change. Cavefish populations, Astyanax mexicanus (Teleostei: Characiphysi), exhibit repeated, independent evolution for a variety of traits including eye degeneration, pigment loss, increased size and number of taste buds and mechanosensory organs, and shifts in many behavioural traits. Surface and cave forms are interfertile making this system amenable to genetic interrogation; however, lack of a reference genome has hampered efforts to identify genes responsible for changes in cave forms of A. mexicanus. Here we present the first de novo genome assembly for Astyanax mexicanus cavefish, contrast repeat elements to other teleost genomes, identify candidate genes underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL), and assay these candidate genes for potential functional and expression differences. We expect the cavefish genome to advance understanding of the evolutionary process, as well as, analogous human disease including retinal dysfunction.

Keywords

Evolution, Genomics, Retina

Document Type

Article

Notes

Nature Communications, Vol. 5, no. 5307 (2014-10-20).

Identifier

K26-05222

Recommended Citation

McGaugh, Suzanne E.; Gross, Joshua B.; and Aken, Bronwen, "The cavefish genome reveals candidate genes for eye loss" (2014). KIP Articles. 794.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/794