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Evolutionary genetics

Microarrays and species origins

Nature volume 437, pages 199–201 (2005)Cite this article

Whole-genome arrays have been used to reveal small islands of genetic differentiation in Anopheles mosquitoes. Analysis of these regions will identify genes involved in the initial stages of speciation.

What are the genetic modifications that underlie the first steps in the origin of new species? The use of microarrays to make whole-genome comparisons between populations that can interbreed, but only to a limited degree, provides a fresh approach to the question. As reported in PLoS Biology, Turner et al.1 have applied this methodology to the malaria-carrying mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. They have identified three small regions, less than 1.5% of the genome, that contain critical genes for the initiation of speciation.

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Figure 1: Differentiated regions in the genomes of the M and S forms of Anopheles gambiae.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK

    Roger Butlin

  2. Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK

    Cally Roper

Authors
  1. Roger Butlin
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  2. Cally Roper
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Butlin, R., Roper, C. Microarrays and species origins. Nature 437, 199–201 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/437199a

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