1
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Balcarcel AM, Geiger M, Sánchez-Villagra MR. Cranial form differences in goats by breed and domestic status. Sci Rep 2024; 14:917. [PMID: 38195639 PMCID: PMC10776561 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50357-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Domestic goats (Capra hircus) are globally represented by over 300 breeds, making them a useful model for investigating patterns of morphological change related to domestication. However, they have been little studied, likely due to their poor representation in museum collections and the difficulty in obtaining truly wild goat (Capra aegagrus, the bezoar) samples. Similar studies on other species reveal that domestication correlates with craniofacial alterations in domestics, which are non-uniform and often species-specific. Here, we use three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods (3DGMM) to describe and quantify cranial shape variation in wild (n = 21) versus domestic (n = 54) goats. We find that mean cranial shapes differ significantly between wild and domestic goats as well as between certain breeds. The detected differences are lower in magnitude than those reported for other domestic groups, possibly explained by the fewer directions of artificial selection in goat breeding, and their low global genetic diversity compared to other livestock. We also find tooth-row length reduction in the domestics, suggestive of rostral shortening-a prediction of the "domestication syndrome" (DS). The goat model thus expands the array-and combinations of-morphological changes observed under domestication, notably detecting alterations to the calvarium form which could be related to the ~ 15% brain size reduction previously reported for domestic compared to wild goats. The global success of domestic goats is due more to their ability to survive in a variety of harsh environments than to systematized human management. Nonetheless, their domestication has resulted in a clear disruption from the wild cranial form, suggesting that even low-intensity selection can lead to significant morphological changes under domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Balcarcel
- Department of Paleontology, University of Zurich, Karl-Schmid-Str. 4, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - M Geiger
- Naturmuseum St.Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 263, 9016, St.Gallen, Switzerland
| | - M R Sánchez-Villagra
- Department of Paleontology, University of Zurich, Karl-Schmid-Str. 4, 8006, Zurich, Switzerland
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2
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Selleri L, Rijli FM. Shaping faces: genetic and epigenetic control of craniofacial morphogenesis. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:610-626. [PMID: 37095271 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00594-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Major differences in facial morphology distinguish vertebrate species. Variation of facial traits underlies the uniqueness of human individuals, and abnormal craniofacial morphogenesis during development leads to birth defects that significantly affect quality of life. Studies during the past 40 years have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that establish facial form during development, highlighting the crucial roles in this process of a multipotent cell type known as the cranial neural crest cell. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in multi-omics and single-cell technologies that enable genes, transcriptional regulatory networks and epigenetic landscapes to be closely linked to the establishment of facial patterning and its variation, with an emphasis on normal and abnormal craniofacial morphogenesis. Advancing our knowledge of these processes will support important developments in tissue engineering, as well as the repair and reconstruction of the abnormal craniofacial complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licia Selleri
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Department of Orofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Filippo M Rijli
- Laboratory of Developmental Neuroepigenetics, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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3
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Tamagnini D, Michaud M, Meloro C, Raia P, Soibelzon L, Tambusso PS, Varela L, Maiorano L. Conical and sabertoothed cats as an exception to craniofacial evolutionary allometry. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13571. [PMID: 37604901 PMCID: PMC10442348 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40677-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Among evolutionary trends shaping phenotypic diversity over macroevolutionary scales, CREA (CRaniofacial Evolutionary Allometry) describes a tendency, among closely related species, for the smaller-sized of the group to have proportionally shorter rostra and larger braincases. Here, we used a phylogenetically broad cranial dataset, 3D geometric morphometrics, and phylogenetic comparative methods to assess the validity and strength of CREA in extinct and living felids. To test for the influence of biomechanical constraints, we quantified the impact of relative canine height on cranial shape evolution. Our results provided support to CREA at the family level. Yet, whereas felines support the rule, big cats, like Pantherinae and Machairodontinae, conform weakly if not at all with CREA predictions. Our findings suggest that Machairodontinae constitute one of the first well-supported exceptions to this biological rule currently known, probably in response to the biomechanical demands and developmental changes linked with their peculiar rostral adaptations. Our results suggest that the acquisition of extreme features concerning biomechanics, evo-devo constraints, and/or ecology is likely to be associated with peculiar patterns of morphological evolution, determining potential exceptions to common biological rules, for instance, by inducing variations in common patterns of evolutionary integration due to heterochronic changes under ratchet-like evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Tamagnini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", University of Rome "La Sapienza", Zoology Building, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185, Rome, Italy.
- Museum of Zoology, Sapienza Museum Centre, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
| | - Margot Michaud
- Evolution & Diversity Dynamics Lab, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
| | - Carlo Meloro
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pasquale Raia
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Soibelzon
- División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, CABA, Argentina
| | - P Sebastián Tambusso
- Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Canelones, Servicio Académico Universitario y Centro de Estudios Paleontológicos (SAUCE-P), Universidad de la República, Santa Isabel s/n, 91500, Sauce, Uruguay
| | - Luciano Varela
- Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Canelones, Servicio Académico Universitario y Centro de Estudios Paleontológicos (SAUCE-P), Universidad de la República, Santa Isabel s/n, 91500, Sauce, Uruguay
| | - Luigi Maiorano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", University of Rome "La Sapienza", Zoology Building, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Museum of Zoology, Sapienza Museum Centre, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
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4
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Tancredi D, Cardinali I. Being a Dog: A Review of the Domestication Process. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14050992. [PMID: 37239352 DOI: 10.3390/genes14050992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of canine domestication represents certainly one of the most interesting questions that evolutionary biology aims to address. A "multiphase" view of this process is now accepted, with a first phase during which different groups of wolves were attracted by the anthropogenic niche and a second phase characterized by the gradual establishment of mutual relationships between wolves and humans. Here, we provide a review of dog (Canis familiaris) domestication, highlighting the ecological differences between dogs and wolves, analyzing the molecular mechanisms which seem to have influenced the affiliative behaviors first observed in Belyaev's foxes, and describing the genetics of ancient European dogs. Then, we focus on three Mediterranean peninsulas (Balkan, Iberian and Italian), which together represent the main geographic area for studying canine domestication dynamics, as it has shaped the current genetic variability of dog populations, and where a well-defined European genetic structure was pinpointed through the analysis of uniparental genetic markers and their phylogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Tancredi
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Irene Cardinali
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Università degli Studi di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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5
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Gleeson BT, Wilson LAB. Shared reproductive disruption, not neural crest or tameness, explains the domestication syndrome. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222464. [PMID: 36946116 PMCID: PMC10031412 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered neural crest cell (NCC) behaviour is an increasingly cited explanation for the domestication syndrome in animals. However, recent authors have questioned this explanation, while others cast doubt on whether domestication syndrome even exists. Here, we review published literature concerning this syndrome and the NCC hypothesis, together with recent critiques of both. We synthesize these contributions and propose a novel interpretation, arguing shared trait changes under ancient domestication resulted primarily from shared disruption of wild reproductive regimes. We detail four primary selective pathways for 'reproductive disruption' under domestication and contrast these succinct and demonstrable mechanisms with cryptic genetic associations posited by the NCC hypothesis. In support of our perspective, we illustrate numerous important ways in which NCCs contribute to vertebrate reproductive phenotypes, and argue it is not surprising that features derived from these cells would be coincidentally altered under major selective regime changes, as occur in domestication. We then illustrate several pertinent examples of Darwin's 'unconscious selection' in action, and compare applied selection and phenotypic responses in each case. Lastly, we explore the ramifications of reproductive disruption for wider evolutionary discourse, including links to wild 'self-domestication' and 'island effect', and discuss outstanding questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Thomas Gleeson
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Laura A. B. Wilson
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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6
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Inferring the palaeobiology of palorchestid marsupials through analysis of mammalian humeral and femoral shape. J MAMM EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-022-09640-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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7
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Geiger M, Sánchez‐Villagra MR, Sherratt E. Cranial shape variation in domestication: A pilot study on the case of rabbits. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2022; 338:532-541. [PMID: 35934897 PMCID: PMC9804214 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Domestication leads to phenotypic characteristics that have been described to be similar across species. However, this "domestication syndrome" has been subject to debate, related to a lack of evidence for certain characteristics in many species. Here we review diverse literature and provide new data on cranial shape changes due to domestication in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a preliminary case study, thus contributing novel evidence to the debate. We quantified cranial shape of 30 wild and domestic rabbits using micro-computed tomography scans and three-dimensional geometric morphometrics. The goal was to test (1) if the domesticates exhibit shorter and broader snouts, smaller teeth, and smaller braincases than their wild counterparts; (2) to what extent allometric scaling is responsible for cranial shape variation; (3) if there is evidence for more variation in the neural crest-derived parts of the cranium compared with those derived of the mesoderm, in accordance with the "neural crest hypothesis." Our own data are consistent with older literature records, suggesting that although there is evidence for some cranial characteristics of the "domestication syndrome" in rabbits, facial length is not reduced. In accordance with the "neural crest hypothesis," we found more shape variation in neural crest versus mesoderm-derived parts of the cranium. Within the domestic group, allometric scaling relationships of the snout, the braincase, and the teeth shed new light on ubiquitous patterns among related taxa. This study-albeit preliminary due to the limited sample size-adds to the growing evidence concerning nonuniform patterns associated with domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Geiger
- Paleontological Institute and MuseumUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland,Naturmuseum St.GallenSt.GallenSwitzerland,SWILD, Urban Ecology & Wildlife ResearchZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Emma Sherratt
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSAAustralia
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8
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Wilson LAB. Developmental instability in domesticated mammals. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2022; 338:484-494. [PMID: 34813170 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Measures of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) have been adopted widely as an estimate of developmental instability. Arising from various sources of stress, developmental instability is associated with an organism's capacity to maintain fitness. The process of domestication has been framed as an environmental stress with human-specified parameters, suggesting that FA may manifest to a larger degree among domesticates compared to their wild relatives. This study used three-dimensional geometric morphometric landmark data to (a) quantify the amount of FA in the cranium of six domestic mammal species and their wild relatives and, (b) provide novel assessment of the commonalities and differences across domestic/wild pairs concerning the extent to which random variation arising from the developmental system assimilates into within-population variation. The majority of domestic mammals showed greater disparity for asymmetric shape, however, only two forms (Pig, Dog) showed significantly higher disparity as well as a higher degree of asymmetry compared to their wild counterparts (Wild Boar, Wolf). Contra to predictions, most domestic and wild forms did not show a statistically significant correspondence between symmetric shape variation and FA, however, a moderate correlation value was recorded for most pairs (r-partial least squares >0.5). Within pairs, domestic and wild forms showed similar correlation magnitudes for the relationship between the asymmetric and symmetric components. In domesticates, new variation may therefore retain a general, conserved pattern in the gross structuring of the cranium, whilst also being a source for response to selection on specific features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A B Wilson
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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9
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Brassard C, Bălăşescu A, Arbogast RM, Forest V, Bemilli C, Boroneanţ A, Convertini F, Gandelin M, Radu V, Fleming PA, Guintard C, Kreplins TL, Callou C, Filippo A, Tresset A, Cornette R, Herrel A, Bréhard S. Unexpected morphological diversity in ancient dogs compared to modern relatives. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220147. [PMID: 35582797 PMCID: PMC9115036 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Dogs are among the most variable species today, but little is known about the morphological variability in the early phases of their history. The Neolithic transition to farming may have resulted in an early morphological diversification as a result of changes in the anthropic environment or intentional selection on specific morphologies. Here, we describe the variability and modularity in mandible form by comparing 525 dog mandibles from European archaeological sites ranging from 8100 to 3000 cal. BC to a reference sample of modern dogs, wolves, and dingoes. We use three-dimensional geometric morphometrics to quantify the form of complete and fragmented mandibles. We demonstrate that an important morphological variability already existed before the Bronze Age in Europe, yet the largest, smallest, most brachycephalic or dolichocephalic extant dogs have no equivalent in the archaeological sample, resulting in a lower variation compared to modern relatives. The covariation between the anterior and posterior parts of the mandible is lower in archaeological dogs, suggesting a low degree of intentional human selection in early periods. The mandible of modern and ancient dogs differs in functionally important areas, possibly reflecting differences in diet, competition, or the implication of ancient dogs in hunting or defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colline Brassard
- AASPE-UMR 7209, CNRS-Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France,MECADEV-UMR 7179, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Adrian Bălăşescu
- Vasile Pârvan Institute of Archaeology, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Vianney Forest
- Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP) Midi-Méditerranée, 30900 Nîmes, France,TRACES-UMR 5608, Université Toulouse - Jean-Jaurès, Toulouse, France
| | - Céline Bemilli
- AASPE-UMR 7209, CNRS-Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France,Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP) Île de France, Le Grand Quevillys, France
| | - Adina Boroneanţ
- Vasile Pârvan Institute of Archaeology, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Fabien Convertini
- Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP) Midi-Méditerranée, 30900 Nîmes, France,ASM-UMR 5140, Montpellier, France
| | - Muriel Gandelin
- Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (INRAP) Midi-Méditerranée, 30900 Nîmes, France,TRACES-UMR 5608, Université Toulouse - Jean-Jaurès, Toulouse, France
| | - Valentin Radu
- National Museum of Romanian History, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Patricia A. Fleming
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Harry Butler Research Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Claude Guintard
- Laboratoire d'Anatomie comparée, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, de l'Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation, Nantes Atlantique – ONIRIS, Nantes, France,GEROM, UPRES EA 4658, LABCOM ANR NEXTBONE, Faculté de santé de l'Université d'Angers, France
| | - Tracey L. Kreplins
- Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Harry Butler Research Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Cécile Callou
- AASPE-UMR 7209, CNRS-Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Andréa Filippo
- AASPE-UMR 7209, CNRS-Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Anne Tresset
- AASPE-UMR 7209, CNRS-Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- ISYEB-UMR7205, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Anthony Herrel
- MECADEV-UMR 7179, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Bréhard
- AASPE-UMR 7209, CNRS-Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
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10
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Boer EF, Maclary ET, Shapiro MD. Complex genetic architecture of three-dimensional craniofacial shape variation in domestic pigeons. Evol Dev 2021; 23:477-495. [PMID: 34914861 PMCID: PMC9119316 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering the genetic basis of vertebrate craniofacial variation is a longstanding biological problem with broad implications in evolution, development, and human pathology. One of the most stunning examples of craniofacial diversification is the adaptive radiation of birds, in which the beak serves essential roles in virtually every aspect of their life histories. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia) provides an exceptional opportunity to study the genetic underpinnings of craniofacial variation because of its unique balance of experimental accessibility and extraordinary phenotypic diversity within a single species. We used traditional and geometric morphometrics to quantify craniofacial variation in an F2 laboratory cross derived from the straight-beaked Pomeranian Pouter and curved-beak Scandaroon pigeon breeds. Using a combination of genome-wide quantitative trait locus scans and multi-locus modeling, we identified a set of genetic loci associated with complex shape variation in the craniofacial skeleton, including beak shape, braincase shape, and mandible shape. Some of these loci control coordinated changes between different structures, while others explain variation in the size and shape of specific skull and jaw regions. We find that in domestic pigeons, a complex blend of both independent and coupled genetic effects underlie three-dimensional craniofacial morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena F. Boer
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUtahUSA
| | - Emily T. Maclary
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUtahUSA
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11
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Hanot P, Bayarsaikhan J, Guintard C, Haruda A, Mijiddorj E, Schafberg R, Taylor W. Cranial shape diversification in horses: variation and covariation patterns under the impact of artificial selection. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:178. [PMID: 34548035 PMCID: PMC8456661 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01907-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential of artificial selection to dramatically impact phenotypic diversity is well known. Large-scale morphological changes in domestic species, emerging over short timescales, offer an accelerated perspective on evolutionary processes. The domestic horse (Equus caballus) provides a striking example of rapid evolution, with major changes in morphology and size likely stemming from artificial selection. However, the microevolutionary mechanisms allowing to generate this variation in a short time interval remain little known. Here, we use 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify skull morphological diversity in the horse, and investigate modularity and integration patterns to understand how morphological associations contribute to cranial evolvability in this taxon. We find that changes in the magnitude of cranial integration contribute to the diversification of the skull morphology in horse breeds. Our results demonstrate that a conserved pattern of modularity does not constrain large-scale morphological variations in horses and that artificial selection has impacted mechanisms underlying phenotypic diversity to facilitate rapid shape changes. More broadly, this study demonstrates that studying microevolutionary processes in domestic species produces important insights into extant phenotypic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Hanot
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, 07745, Jena, Germany.
| | - Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, 07745, Jena, Germany.,National Museum of Mongolia, 1 Juulchin Street, Ulaanbaatar, 15160, Mongolia
| | - Claude Guintard
- Unité d'Anatomie Comparée, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de l'Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation, Nantes Atlantique - ONIRIS, Route de Gachet, CS 40706, 44307, Nantes Cedex 03, France.,Groupe d'Etudes Remodelage osseux et bioMateriaux (GEROM), Unité INSERM 922 LHEA/IRIS-IBS, Université d'Angers, 4 rue Larrey CHU d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Ashleigh Haruda
- Central Natural Science Collections (ZNS), Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Domplatz 4, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.,School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, 1-2 South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3TG, UK
| | - Enkhbayar Mijiddorj
- Department of Archaeology, Ulaanbaatar State University, Luvsantseveen Street, 5th Khoroo, 15th Khoroolol, Bayanzurkh District, Ulaanbaatar, 13343, Mongolia
| | - Renate Schafberg
- Central Natural Science Collections (ZNS), Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Domplatz 4, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - William Taylor
- University of Colorado-Boulder, Museum of Natural History, Boulder, CO, USA
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