Permanent Link:

https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0069775/00001

Material Information

Title:

Genetic analysis of cavefish reveals molecular convergence in the evolution of albinism

Series Title:

Nature Genetics

Creator:

Protas, Meredith E.
Hersey, Candace
Kochanek, Dawn
Zhou, Yi
Wilkens, Horst
Jeffery, William R.
Zon, Leonard I
Borowsky, Richard
Tabin, Clifford J.

Publisher:

Springer Nature

Publication Date:

2005-12-11

Language:

English

Subjects

Genre:

serial ( sobekcm )

Notes

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.

Original Version:

Nature Genetics, Vol. 38 (2005-12-11).

Record Information

Source Institution:

University of South Florida Library

Holding Location:

University of South Florida

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Format:

serial