A Single Amino Acid Mutation Contributes to Adaptive Beach Mouse Color Pattern

2006/07/06 by Hopi E. Hoekstra, Rachel J. Hirschmann, Richard A. Bundey +2 · 743 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · Nursing · #Allele #Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques #Biology #Coding region #Convergent evolution #Crypsis #Ecology #Evolutionary biology #Gene #Genetic variation #Genetics #Mainland #Melanocortin 1 receptor #Mutant #Mutation #Natural selection #Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies #Phenotype #Phylogenetics #Predation #Selection (genetic algorithm) #Zoology #melanin and skin pigmentation

paper · open access · doi:10.1126/science.1126121

published in Science 313(5783), 101-104 (American Association for the Advancement of Science)

openalex publication_date 2006/07/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Natural populations of beach mice exhibit a characteristic color pattern, relative to their mainland conspecifics, driven by natural selection for crypsis. We identified a derived, charge-changing amino acid mutation in the melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r) in beach mice, which decreases receptor function. In genetic crosses, allelic variation at Mc1r explains 9.8% to 36.4% of the variation in seven pigmentation traits determining color pattern. The derived Mc1r allele is present in Florida's Gulf Coast beach mice but not in Atlantic coast mice with similar light coloration, suggesting that different molecular mechanisms are responsible for convergent phenotypic evolution. Here, we link a single mutation in the coding region of a pigmentation gene to adaptive quantitative variation in the wild.

Citations

• Molecular Genetics and Evolution of Melanism in the Cat Family
• The genetic basis of adaptive melanism in pocket mice

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