PRDM9 drives the location and rapid evolution of recombination hotspots in salmonid fish

PRDM9 is a DNA-binding protein that helps determine the location of recombination hotspots in many mammals. This study of several species of salmonid fish reveals that PRDM9 function is conserved across vertebrates and that the peculiar evolutionary runaway caused by PRDM9 has been active for several hundred million years.

Doctoral Defense - Marina de la Cámara

Tests for the replication of an association between Egfr and natural variation in Drosophila melanogaster wing morphology - BMC Genomic Data

Background Quantitative differences between individuals stem from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, with the heritable variation being shaped by evolutionary forces. Drosophila wing shape has emerged as an attractive system for genetic dissection of multi-dimensional traits. We utilize several experimental genetic methods to validation of the contribution of several polymorphisms in the Epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr) gene to wing shape and size, that were previously mapped in populations of Drosophila melanogaster from North Carolina (NC) and California (CA). This re-evaluation utilized different genetic testcrosses to generate heterozygous individuals with a variety of genetic backgrounds as well as sampling of new alleles from Kenyan stocks. Results Only one variant, in the Egfr promoter, had replicable effects in all new experiments. However, expanded genotyping of the initial sample of inbred lines rendered the association non-significant in the CA population, while it persisted in the NC sample, suggesting population specific modification of the quantitative trait nucleotide QTN effect. Conclusion Dissection of quantitative trait variation to the nucleotide level can identify sites with replicable effects as small as one percent of the segregating genetic variation. However, the testcross approach to validate QTNs is both labor intensive and time-consuming, and is probably less useful than resampling of large independent sets of outbred individuals.

Continuous variation in the shell colour of the snail Cepaea nemoralis is associated with the colour locus of the supergene

Abstract. While the shell of the land snail Cepaea nemoralis is typically classed as yellow, pink, or brown, the reality is that colour variation is contin

Association Between Nucleotide Variation in Egfr and Wing Shape in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract. As part of an effort to dissect quantitative trait locus effects to the nucleotide level, association was assessed between 238 single-nucleotide

Unlocking the genetic secrets of strawberries for superior fruit quality

Strawberries, treasured for their flavor and health benefits, have been at the forefront of breeding programs targeting enhanced sensory and nutritional profiles. Despite advances, the intricate genetic makeup of these fruits has complicated efforts to improve them.

Sweet trade-offs: Unraveling the genetic puzzle of strawberry flavor and yield

Strawberries are a global fruit crop treasured for their flavor and nutritional value. However, achieving a balance between high sugar content, which enhances sweetness, and high yield has been a challenge.

Melon flavor decoded: The genetic keys to aromatic diversity

Melon aroma greatly influences consumer preference and fruit quality. Climacteric melons produce more esters, while non-climacteric melons have more aldehydes. Understanding these genetic differences is crucial for breeding better melons. Although genes involved in volatile organic compound (VOC) biosynthesis have been identified, a comprehensive genetic map is still missing. In-depth research is needed to uncover the genetic basis of melon aroma and ripening behavior.

The genetic basis and process of inbreeding depression in an elite hybrid rice

Inbreeding depression is defined as reduced fitness or performance arising from increasing homozygosity of progenies due to successive inbreeding, whereas heterosis refers to the superiority of a hybrid over its parent resulting from the increase in heterozygosity. These two closely related phenomena are of fundamental importance to crop breeding and evolutionary biology.