The double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterfly

Over a century after the first description of a polymorphism controlled by a supergene, these genetic architectures still puzzle biologists. Supergenes are groups of tightly linked loci facilitating the co-segregation of combinations of alleles underlying alternative, complex adaptive strategies. Th...

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Main Authors: Jay, Paul, Joron, Mathieu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Académie des sciences 2022-05-01
Series:Comptes Rendus Biologies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/biologies/articles/10.5802/crbiol.73/
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author Jay, Paul
Joron, Mathieu
author_facet Jay, Paul
Joron, Mathieu
author_sort Jay, Paul
collection DOAJ
description Over a century after the first description of a polymorphism controlled by a supergene, these genetic architectures still puzzle biologists. Supergenes are groups of tightly linked loci facilitating the co-segregation of combinations of alleles underlying alternative, complex adaptive strategies. The suppression of recombination at supergenes is generally caused by polymorphic chromosomal rearrangements, such as inversions. The existence of inversion polymorphisms and supergene raises theoretical and empirical questions. Why do these architectures evolve? How can alternative combinations of alleles be formed? How and why is polymorphism maintained? The purpose of this paper is to provide answers to these questions by reviewing recent advances in the study of Heliconius numata, an Amazonian butterfly displaying a striking diversity of wing color patterns. In a broad context, this review highlights mechanisms that play an important role in the evolution of new genomic architecture and in the adaptation of species.
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spelling doaj.art-35b97707c4f14d6f8438c91c446c71ac2023-10-24T14:25:23ZengAcadémie des sciencesComptes Rendus Biologies1768-32382022-05-013451577310.5802/crbiol.7310.5802/crbiol.73The double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterflyJay, Paul0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5979-1263Joron, Mathieu1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1043-4147Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Bâtiment 360, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, FranceCEFE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, FranceOver a century after the first description of a polymorphism controlled by a supergene, these genetic architectures still puzzle biologists. Supergenes are groups of tightly linked loci facilitating the co-segregation of combinations of alleles underlying alternative, complex adaptive strategies. The suppression of recombination at supergenes is generally caused by polymorphic chromosomal rearrangements, such as inversions. The existence of inversion polymorphisms and supergene raises theoretical and empirical questions. Why do these architectures evolve? How can alternative combinations of alleles be formed? How and why is polymorphism maintained? The purpose of this paper is to provide answers to these questions by reviewing recent advances in the study of Heliconius numata, an Amazonian butterfly displaying a striking diversity of wing color patterns. In a broad context, this review highlights mechanisms that play an important role in the evolution of new genomic architecture and in the adaptation of species.https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/biologies/articles/10.5802/crbiol.73/Chromosomal inversionHeliconiusEvolutionMutation loadMimicrySupergene
spellingShingle Jay, Paul
Joron, Mathieu
The double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterfly
Comptes Rendus Biologies
Chromosomal inversion
Heliconius
Evolution
Mutation load
Mimicry
Supergene
title The double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterfly
title_full The double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterfly
title_fullStr The double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterfly
title_full_unstemmed The double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterfly
title_short The double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterfly
title_sort double game of chromosomal inversions in a neotropical butterfly
topic Chromosomal inversion
Heliconius
Evolution
Mutation load
Mimicry
Supergene
url https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/biologies/articles/10.5802/crbiol.73/
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