Sequence analyses of the distal-less homeobox gene family in East African cichlid fishes reveal signatures of positive selection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gen(om)e duplication events are hypothesized as key mechanisms underlying the origin of phenotypic diversity and evolutionary innovation. The diverse and species-rich lineage of teleost fishes is a renowned example of this scenario, because of the fish-specific genome duplication. Gene families, generated by this and other gene duplication events, have been previously found to play a role in the evolution and development of innovations in cichlid fishes - a prime model system to study the genetic basis of rapid speciation, adaptation and evolutionary innovation. The distal-less homeobox genes are particularly interesting candidate genes for evolutionary novelties, such as the pharyngeal jaw apparatus and the anal fin egg-spots. Here we study the dlx repertoire in 23 East

SUBMITTER: Diepeveen ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3728225 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature