Project description:We report on a genome-wide scan for introgression in the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) involving the Algerian mouse (Mus spretus), using 20 samples from the ranges of sympatry and allopatry. Our analysis reveals significant variability in introgression signatures along the genomes, as well as across the samples. We find that fewer than half of the chromosomes in each genome harbor all detectable introgression. Further, a surprising result is that European mice carry more M. spretus alleles than the sympatric African ones. Using the length distribution and sharing patterns of introgressed genomic tracts across the samples, we propose three hypotheses. First, at least three distinct hybridization events involving M. spretus have occurred, one of which is ancient, and the other two are recent. Second, several of the inferred introgressed tracts contain genes that are likely to confer adaptive advantage. Third, introgressed tracts might contain driver genes that determine the evolutionary fate of those tracts. Further, our analysis revealed introgressed genes of functional importance, including the Vkorc1 gene, which is implicated in rodenticide resistance, and olfactory receptor genes. Our findings highlight the extent and role of introgression in nature, and call for careful analysis and interpretation of house mouse data in evolutionary and genetic studies.
Project description:We examined the transcriptional changes in mouse lungs induced by house dust mite (HDM), D.f. extract and the isolated RNA was utilized for RNA-seq analysis. Our results demonstrated that HDM strongly triggered an inflammatory response.
Project description:We report on a genome-wide scan for introgression in the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) involving the Algerian mouse (Mus spretus), using 20 samples from the ranges of sympatry and allopatry. Our analysis reveals significant variability in introgression signatures along the genomes, as well as across the samples. We find that fewer than half of the chromosomes in each genome harbor all detectable introgression. Further, a surprising result is that European mice carry more M. spretus alleles than the sympatric African ones. Using the length distribution and sharing patterns of introgressed genomic tracts across the samples, we propose three hypotheses. First, at least three distinct hybridization events involving M. spretus have occurred, one of which is ancient, and the other two are recent. Second, several of the inferred introgressed tracts contain genes that are likely to confer adaptive advantage. Third, introgressed tracts might contain driver genes that determine the evolutionary fate of those tracts. Further, our analysis revealed introgressed genes of functional importance, including the Vkorc1 gene, which is implicated in rodenticide resistance, and olfactory receptor genes. Our findings highlight the extent and role of introgression in nature, and call for careful analysis and interpretation of house mouse data in evolutionary and genetic studies. Six wild M. m. domesticus samples were genotyped using the Affymetrix Mouse Diversity Genotyping Array.
Project description:We investigated effects of the t haplotype in house mice, an autosomal male meiotic driver, on genome-wide gene expression patterns in males and females. We analysed gonads, liver and brain in adult sibling pairs differing in genotype, allowing us to identify t-associated differences in gene regulation. In testis, only 40% of differentially expressed genes mapped to the approximately 708 annotated genes comprising the t haplotype. Thus much of the activity of the t haplotype occurs in trans, and as up-regulation. Sperm maturation functions were enriched among both cis and trans acting t haplotype genes. Within the t haplotype, more down-regulation and differential exon usage was observed. In ovaries, liver, and brain, the majority of expression differences mapped to the t haplotype, and were largely independent of the differences seen in the testis. Overall, we found widespread transcriptional effects of this male meiotic driver in the house mouse genome.