Epigenetic variation between urban and rural populations of Darwin's finches.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The molecular basis of evolutionary change is assumed to be genetic variation. However, growing evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, may also be involved in rapid adaptation to new environments. An important first step in evaluating this hypothesis is to test for the presence of epigenetic variation between natural populations living under different environmental conditions.

Results

In the current study we explored variation between populations of Darwin's finches, which comprise one of the best-studied examples of adaptive radiation. We tested for morphological, genetic, and epigenetic differences between adjacent "urban" and "rural" populations of each of two species of ground finches, Geospiza fortis and G. fuliginosa, on Santa

SUBMITTER: McNew SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5569522 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature