A single amino acid mutation contributes to adaptive beach mouse color pattern

Citation:

Hoekstra HE, Hirschmann RJ, Bundey RA, Insel PA, Crossland JP. A single amino acid mutation contributes to adaptive beach mouse color pattern. Science 2006;313:101-4.
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Date Published:

Jul 7

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.

Notes:

Hoekstra, Hopi EHirschmann, Rachel JBundey, Richard AInsel, Paul ACrossland, Janet PengP40-RR14279/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/Research Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.New York, N.Y.2006/07/11 09:00Science. 2006 Jul 7;313(5783):101-4.

Last updated on 02/25/2016