Genetic analysis of cavefish reveals molecular convergence in the evolution of albinism

Meredith E. Protas, Candace Hersey, Dawn Kochanek, Yi Zhou, Horst Wilkens, William R. Jeffery, Leonard I. Zon, Richard Borowsky, Clifford J. Tabin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The genetic basis of vertebrate morphological evolution has traditionally been very difficult to examine in naturally occurring populations. Here we describe the generation of a genome-wide linkage map to allow quantitative trait analysis of evolutionarily derived morphologies in the Mexican cave tetra, a species that has, in a series of independent caves, repeatedly evolved specialized characteristics adapted to a unique and well-studied ecological environment. We focused on the trait of albinism and discovered that it is linked to Oca2, a known pigmentation gene, in two cave populations. We found different deletions in Oca2 in each population and, using a cell-based assay, showed that both cause loss of function of the corresponding protein, OCA2. Thus, the two cave populations evolved albinism independently, through similar mutational events.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)107-111
Number of pages5
JournalNature Genetics
Volume38
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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