Genomic islands of divergence or opportunities for introgression?

ABSTRACT: In animals, introgression between species is often perceived as the breakdown of reproductive isolating mechanisms, but gene flow between incipient species can also represent a source for potentially beneficial alleles. Recently, genome-wide datasets have revealed clusters of differentiated loci ('genomic islands of divergence') that are thought to play a role in reproductive isolation and therefore have reduced gene flow. We use simulations to further examine the evolutionary forces that shape and maintain genomic islands of divergence between two subspecies of the migratory songbird, Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus), which have come into secondary contact since the last glacial maximum. We find that, contrary to expectation, gene flow is high within islands and is highly asy

SUBMITTER: Bay RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5360917 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature