The effects of artificial selection on the maize genome

Science. 2005 May 27;308(5726):1310-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1107891.

Abstract

Domestication promotes rapid phenotypic evolution through artificial selection. We investigated the genetic history by which the wild grass teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) was domesticated into modern maize (Z. mays ssp. mays). Analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 774 genes indicates that 2 to 4% of these genes experienced artificial selection. The remaining genes retain evidence of a population bottleneck associated with domestication. Candidate selected genes with putative function in plant growth are clustered near quantitative trait loci that contribute to phenotypic differences between maize and teosinte. If we assume that our sample of genes is representative, approximately 1200 genes throughout the maize genome have been affected by artificial selection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / biosynthesis
  • Biological Evolution
  • Computer Simulation
  • Genes, Plant
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genome, Plant*
  • Inbreeding
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Models, Genetic
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Probability
  • Quantitative Trait Loci
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Selection, Genetic*
  • Zea mays / genetics*
  • Zea mays / growth & development
  • Zea mays / metabolism

Substances

  • Amino Acids