Widespread Adaptive Introgression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes across Vertebrate Hybrid Zones.

ABSTRACT: Interspecific introgression is a potentially important source of novel variation of adaptive significance. Although multiple cases of adaptive introgression are well documented, broader generalizations about its targets and mechanisms are lacking. Multiallelic balancing selection, particularly when acting through rare allele advantage, is an evolutionary mechanism expected to favor adaptive introgression. This is because introgressed alleles are likely to confer an immediate selective advantage, facilitating their establishment in the recipient species even in the face of strong genomic barriers to introgression. Vertebrate major histocompatibility complex genes are well-established targets of long-term multiallelic balancing selection, so widespread adaptive major histocompatibility compl

SUBMITTER: Gaczorek T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11472244 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature