Population genomic analysis reveals no evidence for GC-biased gene conversion in Drosophila melanogaster.
Gene conversion is the nonreciprocal exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes. Multiple lines of evidence from a variety of taxa strongly suggest that gene conversion events are biased toward GC-bearing alleles. However, in Drosophila, the data have largely been indirect and unclear, with some studies supporting the predictions of a GC-biased gene conversion model and other data showing contradictory findings. Here, we test whether gene conversion events are GC-biased in Drosophila melanogaster using whole-genome polymorphism and divergence data. Our results provide no support for GC-biased gene conversion and thus suggest that this process is unlikely to significantly contribute to patterns of polymorphism and divergence in this system.
Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University.
Matthew C
MC
Robinson
Eric A
EA
Stone
Nadia D
ND
Singh
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D059006:Chromosomes, Insect; D003596:Cytosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005785:Gene Conversion; D049750:Genome, Insect; D023281:Genomics; D006147:Guanine / Q000378:metabolism*; D059645:Mutation Rate; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D006147:Guanine; D003596:Cytosine
Drosophila melanogaster; GC-biased gene conversion; polymorphism and divergence data; whole genome