Positive Selection in Puffer Fishes
Author Information
Author(s): Juan I. Montoya-Burgos
Primary Institution: Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Hypothesis
Are the patterns of positive selection discovered in mammals also valid for teleost fishes?
Conclusion
The study found that genes encoding extracellular proteins are preferentially targeted by positive selection in puffer fishes, similar to patterns observed in mammals.
Supporting Evidence
- More than half of the biological processes targeted by positive selection in mammals are also targeted in puffer fishes.
- Genes encoding extracellular proteins are preferentially targeted by positive selection.
- Neutrally-evolving regions are a major source of novelties screened by natural selection.
Takeaway
Scientists studied how certain genes in puffer fish change over time and found that many of these changes help the fish adapt to their environment.
Methodology
The study used a genome-wide analysis comparing protein-coding genes of Tetraodon and Takifugu, employing a sliding window approach to assess selective pressure.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the limited number of species analyzed and the methods used for detecting positive selection.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable to all teleost fishes due to the specific focus on puffer fishes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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