Adaptation genomics: the next generation.
Understanding the genetics of how organisms adapt to changing environments is a fundamental topic in modern evolutionary ecology. The field is currently progressing rapidly because of advances in genomics technologies, especially DNA sequencing. The aim of this review is to first briefly summarise how next generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed our ability to identify the genes underpinning adaptation. We then demonstrate how the application of these genomic tools to ecological model species means that we can start addressing some of the questions that have puzzled ecological geneticists for decades such as: How many genes are involved in adaptation? What types of genetic variation are responsible for adaptation? Does adaptation utilise pre-existing genetic variation or does it require new mutations to arise following an environmental change?
Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
Jessica
J
Stapley
Julia
J
Reger
Philine G D
PG
Feulner
Carole
C
Smadja
Juan
J
Galindo
Robert
R
Ekblom
Clair
C
Bennison
Alexander D
AD
Ball
Andrew P
AP
Beckerman
Jon
J
Slate
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D010944:Plants