Genomic hotspots for adaptation: the population genetics of Mullerian mimicry in the Heliconius melpomene clade.

ABSTRACT: Wing patterning in Heliconius butterflies is a longstanding example of both Müllerian mimicry and phenotypic radiation under strong natural selection. The loci controlling such patterns are "hotspots" for adaptive evolution with great allelic diversity across different species in the genus. We characterise nucleotide variation, genotype-by-phenotype associations, linkage disequilibrium, and candidate gene expression at two loci and across multiple hybrid zones in Heliconius melpomene and relatives. Alleles at HmB control the presence or absence of the red forewing band, while alleles at HmYb control the yellow hindwing bar. Across HmYb two regions, separated by approximately 100 kb, show significant genotype-by-phenotype associations that are replicated across independent hybrid zones. In

SUBMITTER: Baxter SW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2816687 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature