Deep sampling of Hawaiian Caenorhabditis elegans reveals high genetic diversity and admixture with global populations.

ABSTRACT: Hawaiian isolates of the nematode species Caenorhabditis elegans have long been known to harbor genetic diversity greater than the rest of the worldwide population, but this observation was supported by only a small number of wild strains. To better characterize the niche and genetic diversity of Hawaiian C. elegans and other Caenorhabditis species, we sampled different substrates and niches across the Hawaiian islands. We identified hundreds of new Caenorhabditis strains from known species and a new species, Caenorhabditis oiwi. Hawaiian C. elegans are found in cooler climates at high elevations but are not associated with any specific substrate, as compared to other Caenorhabditis species. Surprisingly, admixture analysis revealed evidence

SUBMITTER: Crombie TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6927746 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature