The signature of balancing selection: fungal mating compatibility gene evolution.

ABSTRACT: A key problem in evolutionary biology has been distinguishing the contributions of current and historical processes to the maintenance of genetic variation. Because alleles at self-recognition genes are under balancing selection, they exhibit extended residence times in populations and thus may provide unique insight into population demographic history. However, evidence for balancing selection and extended residence times has almost exclusively depended on identification of transspecific polymorphisms; polymorphisms retained in populations through speciation events. We present a broadly applicable approach for detecting balancing selection and apply it to the b1 mating type gene in the mushroom fungus Coprinus cinereus. The comparison of neutral molecular variation within and between alle

SUBMITTER: May G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC17752 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature