Prevalent Introgression Underlies Convergent Evolution in the Diversification of Pungitius Sticklebacks.

ABSTRACT: New mutations and standing genetic variations contribute significantly to repeated phenotypic evolution in sticklebacks. However, less is known about the role of introgression in this process. We analyzed taxonomically and geographically comprehensive genomic data from Pungitius sticklebacks to decipher the extent of introgression and its consequences for the diversification of this genus. Our results demonstrate that introgression is more prevalent than suggested by earlier studies. Although gene flow was generally bidirectional, it was often asymmetric and left unequal genomic signatures in hybridizing species, which might, at least partly, be due to biased hybridization and/or population size differences. In several cases, introgression of variants from one species to another was accomp

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9949714 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature