Combining experimental evolution with next-generation sequencing: a powerful tool to study adaptation from standing genetic variation

2014/10/01 by Christian Schlötterer, C Schlötterer, R Kofler +7 · 311 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Adaptation (eye) #Biology #Computational biology #Computer science #DNA sequencing #Evolution and Genetic Dynamics #Evolutionary biology #Experimental evolution #Gene #Genetic diversity and population structure #Genetic variation #Genetics #Genome #Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies #Genotype #Machine learning #Positive selection #Range (aeronautics) #Selection (genetic algorithm) #Single-nucleotide polymorphism #Trait #Variation (astronomy)

paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/hdy.2014.86

published in Heredity 114(5), 431-440 (Springer Nature)

openalex publication_date 2014/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Evolve and resequence (E&R) is a new approach to investigate the genomic responses to selection during experimental evolution. By using whole genome sequencing of pools of individuals (Pool-Seq), this method can identify selected variants in controlled and replicable experimental settings. Reviewing the current state of the field, we show that E&R can be powerful enough to identify causative genes and possibly even single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We also discuss how the experimental design and the complexity of the trait could result in a large number of false positive candidates. We suggest experimental and analytical strategies to maximize the power of E&R to uncover the genotype-phenotype link and serve as an important research tool for a broad range of evolutionary questions.

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