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Iverson ENK. Conservation Mitonuclear Replacement: Facilitated mitochondrial adaptation for a changing world. Evol Appl 2024; 17:e13642. [PMID: 38468713 PMCID: PMC10925831 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Most species will not be able to migrate fast enough to cope with climate change, nor evolve quickly enough with current levels of genetic variation. Exacerbating the problem are anthropogenic influences on adaptive potential, including the prevention of gene flow through habitat fragmentation and the erosion of genetic diversity in small, bottlenecked populations. Facilitated adaptation, or assisted evolution, offers a way to augment adaptive genetic variation via artificial selection, induced hybridization, or genetic engineering. One key source of genetic variation, particularly for climatic adaptation, are the core metabolic genes encoded by the mitochondrial genome. These genes influence environmental tolerance to heat, drought, and hypoxia, but must interact intimately and co-evolve with a suite of important nuclear genes. These coadapted mitonuclear genes form some of the important reproductive barriers between species. Mitochondrial genomes can and do introgress between species in an adaptive manner, and they may co-introgress with nuclear genes important for maintaining mitonuclear compatibility. Managers should consider the relevance of mitonuclear genetic variability in conservation decision-making, including as a tool for facilitating adaptation. I propose a novel technique dubbed Conservation Mitonuclear Replacement (CmNR), which entails replacing the core metabolic machinery of a threatened species-the mitochondrial genome and key nuclear loci-with those from a closely related species or a divergent population, which may be better-adapted to climatic changes or carry a lower genetic load. The most feasible route to CmNR is to combine CRISPR-based nuclear genetic editing with mitochondrial replacement and assisted reproductive technologies. This method preserves much of an organism's phenotype and could allow populations to persist in the wild when no other suitable conservation options exist. The technique could be particularly important on mountaintops, where rising temperatures threaten an alarming number of species with almost certain extinction in the next century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik N. K. Iverson
- Department of Integrative BiologyThe University of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
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Jensen A, Swift F, de Vries D, Beck RMD, Kuderna LFK, Knauf S, Chuma IS, Keyyu JD, Kitchener AC, Farh K, Rogers J, Marques-Bonet T, Detwiler KM, Roos C, Guschanski K. Complex Evolutionary History With Extensive Ancestral Gene Flow in an African Primate Radiation. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad247. [PMID: 37987553 PMCID: PMC10691879 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad247] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the drivers of speciation is fundamental in evolutionary biology, and recent studies highlight hybridization as an important evolutionary force. Using whole-genome sequencing data from 22 species of guenons (tribe Cercopithecini), one of the world's largest primate radiations, we show that rampant gene flow characterizes their evolutionary history and identify ancient hybridization across deeply divergent lineages that differ in ecology, morphology, and karyotypes. Some hybridization events resulted in mitochondrial introgression between distant lineages, likely facilitated by cointrogression of coadapted nuclear variants. Although the genomic landscapes of introgression were largely lineage specific, we found that genes with immune functions were overrepresented in introgressing regions, in line with adaptive introgression, whereas genes involved in pigmentation and morphology may contribute to reproductive isolation. In line with reports from other systems that hybridization might facilitate diversification, we find that some of the most species-rich guenon clades are of admixed origin. This study provides important insights into the prevalence, role, and outcomes of ancestral hybridization in a large mammalian radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Jensen
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75236, Sweden
| | - Frances Swift
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Dorien de Vries
- School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
| | - Robin M D Beck
- School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
| | - Lukas F K Kuderna
- Illumina Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Illumina Inc., Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Sascha Knauf
- Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald – Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | | | - Julius D Keyyu
- Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Andrew C Kitchener
- Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, UK
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
| | - Kyle Farh
- Illumina Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Illumina Inc., Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tomas Marques-Bonet
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Kate M Detwiler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Christian Roos
- Gene Bank of Primates and Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Katerina Guschanski
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75236, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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DeRaad DA, McCullough JM, DeCicco LH, Hime PM, Joseph L, Andersen MJ, Moyle RG. Mitonuclear discordance results from incomplete lineage sorting, with no detectable evidence for gene flow, in a rapid radiation of Todiramphus kingfishers. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:4844-4862. [PMID: 37515525 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17080] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Many organisms possess multiple discrete genomes (i.e. nuclear and organellar), which are inherited separately and may have unique and even conflicting evolutionary histories. Phylogenetic reconstructions from these discrete genomes can yield different patterns of relatedness, a phenomenon known as cytonuclear discordance. In many animals, mitonuclear discordance (i.e. discordant evolutionary histories between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes) has been widely documented, but its causes are often considered idiosyncratic and inscrutable. We show that a case of mitonuclear discordance in Todiramphus kingfishers can be explained by extensive genome-wide incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), likely a result of the explosive diversification history of this genus. For these kingfishers, quartet frequencies reveal that the nuclear genome is dominated by discordant topologies, with none of the internal branches in our consensus nuclear tree recovered in >50% of genome-wide gene trees. Meanwhile, a lack of inter-species shared ancestry, non-significant pairwise tests for gene flow, and little evidence for meaningful migration edges between species, leads to the conclusion that gene flow cannot explain the mitonuclear discordance we observe. This lack of evidence for gene flow combined with evidence for extensive genome-wide gene tree discordance, a hallmark of ILS, leads us to conclude that the mitonuclear discordance we observe likely results from ILS, specifically deep coalescence of the mitochondrial genome. Based on this case study, we hypothesize that similar demographic histories in other 'great speciator' taxa across the Indo-Pacific likely predispose these groups to high levels of ILS and high likelihoods of mitonuclear discordance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon A DeRaad
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Jenna M McCullough
- Department of Biology and Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Lucas H DeCicco
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Paul M Hime
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Leo Joseph
- Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO National Research Collections Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Michael J Andersen
- Department of Biology and Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Robert G Moyle
- Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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Novak TE, Bailey NP, Stevison LS. Genetic characterization of Macaca arctoides: A highlight of key genes and pathways. Primates 2023:10.1007/s10329-023-01064-x. [PMID: 37142891 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-023-01064-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
When compared to the approximately 22 other macaque species, Macaca arctoides has many unique phenotypes. These traits fall into various phenotypic categories, including genitalia, coloration, mating, and olfactory traits. Here we used a previously identified whole genome set of 690 outlier genes to look for possible genetic explanations of these unique traits. Of these, 279 genes were annotated miRNAs, which are non-coding. Patterns within the remaining outliers in coding genes were investigated using GO (n = 370) and String (n = 383) analysis, which showed many interconnected immune-related genes. Further, we compared the outliers to candidate pathways associated with M. arcotides' unique phenotypes, revealing 10/690 outlier genes that overlapped these four pathways: hedgehog signaling, WNT signaling, olfactory, and melanogenesis. Of these, genes in all pathways except olfactory had higher FST values than the rest of the genes in the genome based on permutation tests. Overall, our results point to many genes each having a small impact on phenotype, working in tandem to cause large systemic changes. Additionally, these results may indicate pleiotropy. This seems to be especially true with the development and coloration of M. arctoides. Our results highlight that development, melanogenesis, immune function, and miRNAs may be heavily involved in M. arctoides' evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor E Novak
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
| | - Nick P Bailey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Laurie S Stevison
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
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Stevison LS, Bailey NP, Szpiech ZA, Novak TE, Melnick DJ, Evans BJ, Wall JD. Evolution of genes involved in the unusual genitals of the bear macaque, Macaca arctoides. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8897. [PMID: 35646310 PMCID: PMC9130562 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Genital divergence is thought to contribute to reproductive barriers by establishing a “lock‐and‐key" mechanism for reproductive compatibility. One such example, Macaca arctoides, the bear macaque, has compensatory changes in both male and female genital morphology as compared to close relatives. M. arctoides also has a complex evolutionary history, having extensive introgression between the fascicularis and sinica macaque species groups. Here, phylogenetic relationships were analyzed via whole‐genome sequences from five species, including M. arctoides, and two species each from the putative parental species groups. This analysis revealed ~3x more genomic regions supported placement in the sinica species group as compared to the fascicularis species group. Additionally, introgression analysis of the M. arctoides genome revealed it is a mosaic of recent polymorphisms shared with both species groups. To examine the evolution of their unique genital morphology further, the prevalence of candidate genes involved in genital morphology was compared against genome‐wide outliers in various population genetic metrics of diversity, divergence, introgression, and selection, while accounting for background variation in recombination rate. This analysis identified 67 outlier genes, including several genes that influence baculum morphology in mice, which were of interest since the bear macaque has the longest primate baculum. The mean of four of the seven population genetic metrics was statistically different in the candidate genes as compared to the rest of the genome, suggesting that genes involved in genital morphology have increased divergence and decreased diversity beyond expectations. These results highlight specific genes that may have played a role in shaping the unique genital morphology in the bear macaque.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie S Stevison
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama USA
| | - Nick P Bailey
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama USA
| | - Zachary A Szpiech
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama USA.,Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA.,Institute for Computational and Data Sciences Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA
| | - Taylor E Novak
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama USA
| | - Don J Melnick
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Columbia University New York New York USA
| | - Ben J Evans
- Biology Department McMaster University Hamilton Ontario Canada
| | - Jeffrey D Wall
- Institute for Human Genetics University of California, San Francisco San Francisco California USA
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