Dorsal spine evolution in threespine sticklebacks via a splicing change in MSX2A.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dorsal spine reduction in threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a classic example of recurrent skeletal evolution in nature. Sticklebacks in marine environments typically have long spines that form part of their skeletal armor. Many derived freshwater populations have evolved shorter spines. Changes in spine length are controlled in part by a quantitative trait locus (QTL) previously mapped to chromosome 4, but the causative gene and mutations underlying the repeated evolution of this interesting skeletal trait have not been identified.

Results

Refined mapping of the spine length QTL shows that it lies near the MSX2A transcription factor gene. MSX2A is expressed in developing spines. In F1 marine × freshwater fish, the marine allele is preferentially

SUBMITTER: Howes TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5719529 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature