The genomic complexity of a large inversion in great tits

Vinicius H. da Silva, Veronika N. Laine, Mirte Bosse, Lewis G. Spurgin, Martijn F. L. Derks, Kees van Oers, Bert Dibbits, Jon Slate, Richard P. M. A. Crooijmans, Marcel E. Visser, Martien A. M. Groenen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Chromosome inversions have clear effects on genome evolution and have been associated with speciation, adaptation and the evolution of the sex chromosomes. In birds, these inversions may play an important role in hybridization of species and disassortative mating. We identified a large (≈64 Mb) inversion polymorphism in the great tit (Parus major) that encompasses almost 1,000 genes and more than 90% of Chromosome 1A. The inversion occurs at a low frequency in a set of over 2,300 genotyped great tits in the Netherlands with only 5% of the birds being heterozygous for the inversion. In an additional analysis of 29 resequenced birds from across Europe we found two heterozygotes. The likely inversion breakpoints show considerable genomic complexity, including multiple copy number variable segments. We identified different haplotypes for the inversion, which differ in the degree of recombination in the center of the chromosome. Overall, this remarkable genetic variant is widespread among distinct great tit populations and future studies of the inversion haplotype, including how it affects the fitness of carriers, may help to understand the mechanisms that maintain it.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1870-1881
Number of pages12
JournalGenome Biology and Evolution
Volume11
Issue number7
Early online date22-May-2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul-2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM
  • SILENE-LATIFOLIA
  • RECOMBINATION SUPPRESSION
  • BREAKPOINT
  • EVOLUTION
  • ORGANIZATION
  • FREQUENCIES
  • MECHANISMS
  • EXPRESSION
  • INFERENCE

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