Alternative splicing and gene expression play contrasting roles in the parallel phenotypic evolution of a salmonid fish.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the contribution of different molecular processes to evolution and development is crucial for identifying the mechanisms of adaptation. Here, we used RNA-sequencing data to test the importance of alternative splicing and differential gene expression in a case of parallel adaptive evolution, the replicated postglacial divergence of the salmonid fish Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) into sympatric benthic and pelagic ecotypes across multiple independent lakes. We found that genes differentially spliced between ecotypes were mostly not differentially expressed (<6% overlap) and were involved in different biological processes. Differentially spliced genes were primarily enriched for muscle development and functioning, while differentially expressed genes were involved in metabol

SUBMITTER: Jacobs A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8653899 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature