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Towards a gene regulatory network perspective on phenotypic plasticity, genetic accommodation and genetic assimilation
Author(s) -
Pfennig David W.,
Ehrenreich Ian M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/mec.12887
Subject(s) - biology , phenotypic plasticity , evolutionary biology , gene regulatory network , phenotype , cichlid , genetics , gene , gene expression , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery
Many organisms can produce alternative phenotypes in direct response to different environmental conditions, a phenomenon known as phenotypic plasticity. The environmentally sensitive gene regulatory networks ( GRN s) that mediate such developmental flexibility are largely unknown. Yet, characterizing these GRN s is important not only for elucidating plasticity's molecular basis, but also for shedding light onto whether and how plasticity might impact evolution. In this issue of Molecular Ecology , Schneider et al .) describe one of the first efforts to determine the GRN underlying a plastic trait. They focus on diet‐induced plasticity in the cichlid fish, Astatoreochromis alluaudi . Depending on whether soft food (e.g. insects) or hard food (e.g. molluscs) is consumed, this species forms a lower pharyngeal jaw ( LPJ ) with many fine teeth or with fewer molar‐like teeth, respectively (Fig. 1). The authors previously identified genes that are differentially expressed between LPJ morphs during early development. In the present study, they examine the expression of 19 of these genes across development and diet. By analysing these transcriptional data in combination with information on putative transcription factor binding sites, they construct a GRN that explains observed gene expression patterns and is likely to control LPJ morphology. This work advances our understanding of how plasticity can arise as a consequence of environmentally sensitive GRN s and promises to help illuminate how changes in such GRN s could facilitate evolution.

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