Inversion invasions: when the genetic basis of local adaptation is concentrated within inversions in the face of gene flow.

ABSTRACT: Across many species where inversions have been implicated in local adaptation, genomes often evolve to contain multiple, large inversions that arise early in divergence. Why this occurs has yet to be resolved. To address this gap, we built forward-time simulations in which inversions have flexible characteristics and can invade a metapopulation undergoing spatially divergent selection for a highly polygenic trait. In our simulations, inversions typically arose early in divergence, captured standing genetic variation upon mutation, and then accumulated many small-effect loci over time. Under special conditions, inversions could also arise late in adaptation and capture locally adapted alleles. Polygenic inversions behaved similarly to a single supergene of large effect and were detectable b

SUBMITTER: Schaal SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9189506 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature