Gene swamping alters evolution during range expansions in the protist Tetrahymena thermophila.

ABSTRACT: At species' range edges, individuals often face novel environmental conditions that may limit range expansion until populations adapt. The potential to adapt depends on genetic variation upon which selection can act. However, populations at species' range edges are often genetically depauperate. One mechanism increasing genetic variation is reshuffling existing variation through sex. Sex, however, can potentially limit adaptation by breaking up existing beneficial allele combinations (recombination load). The gene swamping hypothesis predicts this is specifically the case when populations expand along an abiotic gradient and asymmetric dispersal leads to numerous maladapted dispersers from the range core swamping the range edge. We used the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila as a model

SUBMITTER: Moerman F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7336843 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature