Work

Fluctuating selection and the determinants of genetic variation

Year: 2023

Type: review

Abstract: Recent studies of cosmopolitan Drosophila populations have found hundreds to thousands of genetic loci with seasonally fluctuating allele frequencies, bringing temporally fluctuating selection to the forefront of the historical debate surrounding the maintenance of genetic variation in natural populations. Numerous mechanisms have been explored in this longstanding area of research, but these exciting empirical findings have prompted several recent theoretical and experimental studies that seek to better understand the drivers, dynamics, and genome-wide influence of fluctuating selection. In this review, we evaluate the latest evidence for multilocus fluctuating selection in Drosophila and other taxa, highlighting the role of potential genetic and ecological mechanisms in maintaining these loci and their impacts on neutral genetic variation.

Source: Trends in Genetics

DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.02.004

Authors: Olivia L. Johnson, Raymond Tobler, Joshua M. Schmidt, Christian D. Huber

Institutions: The University of Adelaide, Australian National University, Flinders University, Pennsylvania State University

Language: English

Topic: Evolution and Genetic Dynamics

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $6,830

Funders: Australian Government, Australian Research Council