Selection and gene duplication associated with high-elevation diversification in Pristimantis, the largest terrestrial vertebrate genus.

ABSTRACT: The genus Pristimantis diversified in the tropical Andes mountains and is the most speciose genus of terrestrial vertebrates. Pristimantis are notable among frogs in that they thrive at high elevations (>2000 m) and are direct developers without a tadpole stage. Despite their ecological significance, little is known about the genetic and physiological traits enabling their success. We conducted transcriptomic analysis on seven Pristimantis species sampled across elevations in the Ecuadorean Andes to explore three hypotheses for their success: (1) unique genes are under selection relative to all other frogs, (2) common selection occurs across all direct developers, or (3) common selection occurs across all high-elevation frog clades. Comparative analysis with 34 frog species revealed unique

SUBMITTER: Christodoulides N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11342244 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature