The Population Genetics of dN/dS
Author Information
Author(s): Kryazhimskiy Sergey, Plotkin Joshua B., Gojobori Takashi
Primary Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Hypothesis
How does the dN/dS ratio behave in population samples compared to divergent lineages?
Conclusion
The dN/dS ratio is not a reliable indicator of selection pressure when applied to sequences from a single population.
Supporting Evidence
- The dN/dS ratio is commonly used to detect proteins undergoing adaptation.
- The expected dN/dS ratio within a population is relatively insensitive to selection pressure.
- Strong positive selection is expected to produce dN/dS<1 among population samples.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at how a measure called dN/dS, which shows how proteins change over time, works differently in populations compared to when looking at different species. They found it can be misleading in populations.
Methodology
The study analyzed the expected dN/dS ratio for samples drawn from a single population under selection and compared it to the behavior of dN/dS across divergent lineages.
Potential Biases
The interpretation of dN/dS values may be influenced by the assumptions of the models used, particularly when applied to intraspecific data.
Limitations
The analysis assumes independence of sites and does not account for linkage, which may not hold in many practical settings.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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