Molecular evolution under increasing transposable element burden in Drosophila
Author Information
Author(s): Dean M. Castillo, Joshua Chang Mell, Kimberly S. Box, Justin P. Blumenstiel
Primary Institution: University of Kansas
Hypothesis
Does increasing transposable element (TE) abundance drive a higher rate of amino-acid substitution in the piRNA machinery?
Conclusion
Increasing TE abundance does not drive a faster rate of evolution in the piRNA machinery in the Drosophila genus; instead, it may constrain adaptation.
Supporting Evidence
- Genome-wide levels of purifying selection are positively correlated with TE abundance.
- Species with greater TE abundance show greater levels of purifying selection in the piRNA machinery.
- TE abundance is correlated with increased codon bias in the piRNA machinery.
Takeaway
This study looked at how certain elements in DNA affect the evolution of fruit flies, finding that more of these elements don't make the flies evolve faster, but might actually slow down their evolution.
Methodology
The study analyzed genome-wide estimates of TE abundance and ω (a measure of evolutionary rate) across 12 Drosophila species.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to phylogenetic non-independence were addressed using statistical corrections.
Limitations
The study may not account for all confounding factors influencing the relationship between TE abundance and evolutionary rates.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on 12 species of Drosophila with sequenced genomes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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