Evolution of Darwin’s finches and their beaks revealed by genome sequencing

Sangeet Lamichhaney, Jonas Berglund, Markus Sällman Almén, Khurram Maqbool, Manfred Grabherr, Alvaro Martinez-Barrio, Marta Promerová, Carl-Johan Rubin, Chao Wang, Neda Zamani, B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, Matthew T. Webster and Leif Andersson ()
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Sangeet Lamichhaney: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Jonas Berglund: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Markus Sällman Almén: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Khurram Maqbool: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Manfred Grabherr: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Alvaro Martinez-Barrio: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Marta Promerová: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Carl-Johan Rubin: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Chao Wang: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Neda Zamani: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
B. Rosemary Grant: Princeton University
Peter R. Grant: Princeton University
Matthew T. Webster: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
Leif Andersson: Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden

Nature, 2015, vol. 518, issue 7539, 371-375

Abstract: Abstract Darwin’s finches, inhabiting the Galápagos archipelago and Cocos Island, constitute an iconic model for studies of speciation and adaptive evolution. Here we report the results of whole-genome re-sequencing of 120 individuals representing all of the Darwin’s finch species and two close relatives. Phylogenetic analysis reveals important discrepancies with the phenotype-based taxonomy. We find extensive evidence for interspecific gene flow throughout the radiation. Hybridization has given rise to species of mixed ancestry. A 240 kilobase haplotype encompassing the ALX1 gene that encodes a transcription factor affecting craniofacial development is strongly associated with beak shape diversity across Darwin's finch species as well as within the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis), a species that has undergone rapid evolution of beak shape in response to environmental changes. The ALX1 haplotype has contributed to diversification of beak shapes among the Darwin’s finches and, thereby, to an expanded utilization of food resources.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/nature14181

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