The genetic architecture of skeletal convergence and sex determination in ninespine sticklebacks.

ABSTRACT: The history of life offers plentiful examples of convergent evolution, the independent derivation of similar phenotypes in distinct lineages. The emergence of convergent phenotypes among closely related lineages (frequently termed "parallel" evolution) is often assumed to result from changes in similar genes or developmental pathways, but the genetic origins of convergence remains poorly understood. Ninespine (Pungitius pungitius) and threespine (Gasterosteus aculeatus) stickleback fish provide many examples of convergent evolution of adaptive phenotypes, both within and between genera. The genetic architecture of several important traits is now known for threespine sticklebacks; thus, ninespine sticklebacks provide a unique opportunity to critically test whether similar or different chrom

SUBMITTER: Shapiro MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2735127 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature