Chemosensory genes and the evolution of aphid host races
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Animal and Plant Sciences
Abstract
The process of speciation involves the progressive evolution of reproductive isolation between divergent populations. When this process happens in the face of gene flow, differentiation is expected to be variable across the genome reflecting the direct operation of natural selection and the barrier created for regions surrounding selected loci. Population genomics and QTL mapping approaches have recently contributed significantly to detecting regions under selection and associated islands of differentiation but further progress is difficult in many systems. We argue that a candidate gene approach can significantly advance this field. We propose to study sequence and expression divergence for the entire known repertoire of chemosensory genes in host races of the pea aphid. This study system is unique in having multiple races at different levels of divergence, excellent background information and a sequenced genome. This allows us to apply the latest approaches (Nimblegen capture arrays, 454 sequencing and Illumina Digitial Gene Expression) to this major problem in evolutionary genetics.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Roger Butlin (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Abbott R
(2013)
Hybridization and speciation.
in Journal of evolutionary biology
Butlin RK
(2013)
Pulling together or pulling apart: hybridization in theory and practice.
in Journal of evolutionary biology
Duvaux L
(2015)
Dynamics of copy number variation in host races of the pea aphid.
in Molecular biology and evolution
Eyres I
(2017)
Targeted re-sequencing confirms the importance of chemosensory genes in aphid host race differentiation.
in Molecular ecology
Eyres I
(2016)
Differential gene expression according to race and host plant in the pea aphid.
in Molecular ecology
Marie Curie SPECIATION Network
(2012)
What do we need to know about speciation?
in Trends in ecology & evolution
Smadja CM
(2011)
A framework for comparing processes of speciation in the presence of gene flow.
in Molecular ecology
Description | We have identified a small subset of chemosensory genes implicated in divergence between pea aphid host races through their role in host recognition. Surprisingly low gene expression responses to host-switching but large expression differences among races have been observed. Together, these observations take us closer to understanding the evolutionary steps underlying host race formation. |
Exploitation Route | We are taking forward these observations in our current grant by testing for selection on candidate genes and for association between these genes and the aphids' acceptance of hosts as a function of their metabolite composition. In general, this will help to understand how aphids make feeding decisions and may eventually help in development of methods for aphid control. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |