Convergent evolution of noncoding elements associated with short tarsus length in birds.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar traits in unrelated lineages across the Tree of Life. Various genomic signatures can help identify cases of convergent evolution at the molecular level, including changes in substitution rate in the same genes or gene networks. In this study, utilizing tarsus measurements of ~ 5400 species of birds, we identify independent shifts in tarsus length and use both comparative genomic and population genetic data to identify convergent evolutionary changes among focal clades with shifts to shorter optimal tarsus length.

Results

Using a newly generated, comprehensive and broadly accessible set of 932,467 avian conserved non-exonic elements (CNEEs) and a whole-genome alignment of 79 birds, we find strong evidence

SUBMITTER: Shakya SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11846207 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature