Dataset Information

Origin of a novel allele in a mammalian hybrid zone.

ABSTRACT: The occurrence of rare or novel alleles has been documented in at least 23 different hybrid zones spanning vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. As most novel alleles either occur at high frequencies in hybrid populations or are exclusively restricted to hybrids, it has seemed probable that hybridization has a role in their origin; however, the molecular nature of these novel alleles and the mechanisms responsible for their origin remain obscure. We examined the complete coding sequences of six alleles of alcohol dehydrogenase in a mammalian hybrid zone between two species of pocket gophers (Geomys). One of these sequences encodes a novel electromorph that had been identified in earlier allozyme studies; this novel allele differs from one of the parental alleles by a single base substitution. This substitution generates an amino acid replacement that affects the net charge of the translated protein. This resultant charge change is congruent with the observed allozyme mobility patterns. Our data thus provide evidence for simple DNA substitution as a mechanism for the origin of this novel hybrid-zone allele.

SUBMITTER: Bradley RD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC47476 | biostudies-other | 1993 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Origin of a novel allele in a mammalian hybrid zone.

Bradley R D RD Bull J J JJ Johnson A D AD Hillis D M DM

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 19931001 19

The occurrence of rare or novel alleles has been documented in at least 23 different hybrid zones spanning vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. As most novel alleles either occur at high frequencies in hybrid populations or are exclusively restricted to hybrids, it has seemed probable that hybridization has a role in their origin; however, the molecular nature of these novel alleles and the mechanisms responsible for their origin remain obscure. We examined the complete coding sequences of six alle ...[more]

PMID: 8415634

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundZones of contact between closely related taxa with divergent migratory routes, termed migratory divides, have been suggested as areas where hybrid offspring may have intermediate and inferior migratory routes, resulting in low fitness of hybrids and thereby promoting speciation. In the Rocky Mountains of Canada there is a narrow hybrid zone between Audubon's and myrtle warblers that is likely maintained by selection against hybrids. Band recoveries and isotopic studies indicate that this hybrid zone broadly corresponds to the location of a possible migratory divide, with Audubon's warblers migrating south-southwest and myrtle warblers migrating southeast. We tested a key prediction of the migratory divide hypothesis: that genetic background would be predictive of migratory orientation among warblers in the center of the hybrid zone.MethodsWe recorded fall migratory orientation of wild-caught migrating warblers in the center of the hybrid zone as measured by video-based monitoring of migratory restlessness in circular orientation chambers. We then tested whether there was a relationship between migratory orientation and genetic background, as measured using a set of species-specific diagnostic genetic markers.ResultsWe did not detect a significant association between orientation and genetic background. There was large variation among individuals in orientation direction. Mean orientation was towards the NE, surprising for birds on fall migration, but aligned with the mountain valley in which the study took place.ConclusionsOnly one other study has directly analyzed migratory orientation among naturally-produced hybrids in a migratory divide. While the other study showed an association between genetic background and orientation, we did not observe such an association in yellow-rumped warblers. We discuss possible reasons, including the possibility of a lack of a strong migratory divide in this hybrid zone and/or methodological limitations that may have prevented accurate measurements of long-distance migratory orientation.

Dataset Information

Origin of a novel allele in a mammalian hybrid zone.

Publications

Origin of a novel allele in a mammalian hybrid zone.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets