Epistatic mutations under divergent selection govern phenotypic variation in the crow hybrid zone.

Knief U, Bossu CM, Saino N, Hansson B, Poelstra J, Vijay N, Weissensteiner M, Wolf JBW

Nat Ecol Evol 3 (4) 570-576 [2019-04-00; online 2019-03-25]

The evolution of genetic barriers opposing interspecific gene flow is key to the origin of new species. Drawing from information on over 400 admixed genomes sourced from replicate transects across the European hybrid zone between all-black carrion crows and grey-coated hooded crows, we decipher the interplay between phenotypic divergence and selection at the molecular level. Over 68% of plumage variation was explained by epistasis between the gene NDP and a ~2.8-megabase region on chromosome 18 with suppressed recombination. Both pigmentation loci showed evidence for divergent selection resisting introgression. This study reveals how few, large-effect loci can govern prezygotic isolation and shield phenotypic divergence from gene flow.

PubMed 30911146

DOI 10.1038/s41559-019-0847-9

Crossref 10.1038/s41559-019-0847-9

mid: EMS81901
pmc: PMC6445362
pii: 10.1038/s41559-019-0847-9