Widespread divergence between incipient Anopheles gambiae species revealed by whole genome sequences

Science. 2010 Oct 22;330(6003):512-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1195755.

Abstract

The Afrotropical mosquito Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, a major vector of malaria, is currently undergoing speciation into the M and S molecular forms. These forms have diverged in larval ecology and reproductive behavior through unknown genetic mechanisms, despite considerable levels of hybridization. Previous genome-wide scans using gene-based microarrays uncovered divergence between M and S that was largely confined to gene-poor pericentromeric regions, prompting a speciation-with-ongoing-gene-flow model that implicated only about 3% of the genome near centromeres in the speciation process. Here, based on the complete M and S genome sequences, we report widespread and heterogeneous genomic divergence inconsistent with appreciable levels of interform gene flow, suggesting a more advanced speciation process and greater challenges to identify genes critical to initiating that process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / classification
  • Anopheles / genetics*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Female
  • Gene Flow
  • Genetic Speciation*
  • Genome, Insect*
  • Male
  • Models, Genetic
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide