On the robustness of Bayesian inference of gene flow to intragenic recombination and natural selection.

ABSTRACT: The multispecies coalescent (MSC) model provides a framework for detecting gene flow using genomic data, including between sister species. However, the robustness of the inference to violations of model assumptions are poorly understood. Here, we use simulation to study the false positive rate of a Bayesian test of gene flow under the MSC with multiple influencing factors including recombination, natural selection, discrete versus continuous gene flow, variable species divergence time, and gene flow involving sister versus nonsister lineages. We find that in almost all scenarios examined the test has very low false positives. However, the test of gene flow between sister lineages may be prone to high false positives in cases of very recent species divergence and very high recombination rat

SUBMITTER: Thawornwattana Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12759005 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature