Nick Barton: Understanding how selection and gene flow shape sequence variation in an Antirrhinum hybrid zone

Wednesday Seminar

  • Datum: 16.01.2019
  • Uhrzeit: 11:30 - 12:30
  • Vortragende(r): Nick Barton
  • Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria)
  • Ort: MPIPZ
  • Raum: Lecture hall
  • Gastgeber: Andrea Fulgione
Nick Barton: Understanding how selection and gene flow shape sequence variation in an <i>Antirrhinum</i> hybrid zone
The snapdragon Antirrhinum majus includes subspecies that differ in flower colour. In joint work with David Field (Univ. of Vienna) and Enrico Coen (John Innes Institute, Norwich), we have made an intensive study of a narrow hybrid zone that separates yellow and magenta flowers. Observations of pollinator behaviour and genetic estimates of parentage show that there is assortative mating for flower colour, and that pollinators prefer commoner colours; these direct estimates are consistent with indirect measures of selection and gene flow. Pooled sequence data shows that selection likely acts on just a few genes involved with flower colour, and prevents gene flow only across a very small region of genome. This study shows how a variety of techniques can be combined to understand a striking natural phenomenon.
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