Sequencing and the molecular dissection of a 'fitness' locus in Soay sheep
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Animal and Plant Sciences
Abstract
This proposal will exploit recent discoveries made under NERC EG project 'QTL mapping in natural populations using linkage and linkage disequilibrium' to address a major question in evolutionary genetics: are negative genetic correlations due to pleiotropy at a single locus, or linkage disequilibrium between closely linked loci? We have identified a negative genetic correlation for fitness in the vicinity of the TYRP1 gene underlying a coat colour polymorphism in Soay sheep. We propose to characterise sequence diversity and patterns of linkage disequilibrium in an ~600 Kbp region flanking TYRP1 in order to dissect the molecular basis of the genetic correlation.
Publications
Feulner PGD
(2013)
Introgression and the fate of domesticated genes in a wild mammal population.
in Molecular ecology
Gratten J
(2012)
Selection and microevolution of coat pattern are cryptic in a wild population of sheep.
in Molecular ecology
Gratten J
(2010)
The genetic basis of recessive self-colour pattern in a wild sheep population.
in Heredity
Gratten J
(2008)
A localized negative genetic correlation constrains microevolution of coat color in wild sheep.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Gratten J
(2010)
No evidence for warming climate theory of coat colour change in Soay sheep: a comment on Maloney et al.
in Biology letters
Kruuk L
(2008)
New Answers for Old Questions: The Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics of Wild Animal Populations
in Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics
Slate J
(2010)
Genome mapping in intensively studied wild vertebrate populations.
in Trends in genetics : TIG
Slate J
(2009)
Gene mapping in the wild with SNPs: guidelines and future directions.
in Genetica
Stapley J
(2010)
Adaptation genomics: the next generation.
in Trends in ecology & evolution
| Description | This study provided additional insight into how the Tyrp1 gene, which determines coat colour in Soay sheep, also has influences on individual variation in fitness. There are very few gene/genomic regions that have been shown to control variation in fitness in wild vertebrate populations, and this example has provoked considerable discussion about whether microevolution of Tyrp1 is mediated by climate change. |
| Exploitation Route | The results and methodology will be useful for scientists interested in hybridisation, introgression and admixture. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | http://www.molecularecologist.com/2013/08/domesticated-genes-gone-wild/ |
| Description | In scientific publications, on scientfiic blogs, in outreach events (e.g. school visits and open days) and in annual reports on the St Kilda Sheep Project (which are distributed to stakeholders). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural |