Molecular evolution of toothed whale genes reveals adaptations to echolocating in different environments.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Echolocation was a key development in toothed whale evolution, enabling their adaptation and diversification across various environments. Previous bioacoustic and morphological studies suggest that environmental pressures have influenced the evolution of echolocation in toothed whales. This hypothesis demands further investigation, especially regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in the adaptive radiation of toothed whales across multiple habitats. Here we show that the coding sequences of four hearing genes involved in echolocation (CDH23, prestin, TMC1, and CLDN14) have different signatures of molecular evolution among riverine, coastal, and oceanic dolphins, suggesting that the evolutionary constraints of these habitats shaped the underlying genetic diversity of

SUBMITTER: Magpali L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11542384 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature