Did genome duplication drive the origin of teleosts? A comparative study of diversification in ray-finned fishes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

One of the main explanations for the stunning diversity of teleost fishes (approximately 29,000 species, nearly half of all vertebrates) is that a fish-specific whole-genome duplication event (FSGD) in the ancestor to teleosts triggered their subsequent radiation. However, one critical assumption of this hypothesis, that diversification rates in teleosts increased soon after the acquisition of a duplicated genome, has never been tested.

Results

Here we show that one of three major diversification rate shifts within ray-finned fishes occurred at the base of the teleost radiation, as predicted by the FSGD hypothesis. We also find evidence for two rate increases that are much younger than the inferred age of the FSGD: one in the common ancestor of most ostariophysan

SUBMITTER: Santini F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2743667 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature