Inferring Balancing Selection From Genome-Scale Data

Bárbara D Bitarello; Débora Y C Brandt; Diogo Meyer; Aida M Andrés

doi:10.1093/gbe/evad032

journal article Open Access Feb 23, 2023

Inferring Balancing Selection From Genome-Scale Data

Bárbara D Bitarello

Débora Y C Brandt Diogo Meyer Aida M Andrés

Genome Biology and Evolution Vol. 15 No. 3 · Oxford University Press (OUP)

View at Publisher Save 10.1093/gbe/evad032

Abstract

AbstractThe identification of genomic regions and genes that have evolved under natural selection is a fundamental objective in the field of evolutionary genetics. While various approaches have been established for the detection of targets of positive selection, methods for identifying targets of balancing selection, a form of natural selection that preserves genetic and phenotypic diversity within populations, have yet to be fully developed. Despite this, balancing selection is increasingly acknowledged as a significant driver of diversity within populations, and the identification of its signatures in genomes is essential for understanding its role in evolution. In recent years, a plethora of sophisticated methods has been developed for the detection of patterns of linked variation produced by balancing selection, such as high levels of polymorphism, altered allele-frequency distributions, and polymorphism sharing across divergent populations. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of classical and contemporary methods, offer guidance on the choice of appropriate methods, and discuss the importance of avoiding artifacts and of considering alternative evolutionary processes. The increasing availability of genome-scale datasets holds the potential to assist in the identification of new targets and the quantification of the prevalence of balancing selection, thus enhancing our understanding of its role in natural populations.

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Citations

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References

Details

Published: Feb 23, 2023
Vol/Issue: 15(3)
License: View

Authors

B

Bárbara D Bitarello

Biology Department, Bryn Mawr College , Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

D

Débora Y C Brandt

Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California; Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, UCL Genetics Institute, University College London , London , United Kingdom

D

Diogo Meyer

Institute of Biosciences, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo , São Paulo, SP , Brazil

A

Aida M Andrés

Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, UCL Genetics Institute, University College London , London , United Kingdom

Funding

Sao Paulo Research Foundation

Cite This Article

Bárbara D Bitarello, Débora Y C Brandt, Diogo Meyer, et al. (2023). Inferring Balancing Selection From Genome-Scale Data. Genome Biology and Evolution, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evad032

Inferring Balancing Selection From Genome-Scale Data

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