InterferenceAnalyzer: Tools for the analysis and simulation of multi-locus genetic data

BACKGROUND: Good statistical models for analyzing and simulating multilocus recombination data exist but are not accessible to many biologists because their use requires reasonably sophisticated mathematical and computational implementation. While some labs have direct access to statisticians or programmers competent to carry out such analyses, many labs do not. We have created a platform independent application with an easy-to-use graphical user interface that will carry out such analyses including the simulations needed to bootstrap confidence intervals for the parameters of interest. This software should make multi-locus techniques accessible to labs that previously relied on less powerful and potentially statistically confounded single interval or double interval techniques. RESULTS: We introduce InterferenceAnalyzer, an implementation with a user-friendly graphical interface incorporating previously developed algorithms for the analysis and simulation of multilocus recombination data. We demonstrate the use and features of the program with an example of multilocus tetrad data from the mustard plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, and the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CONCLUSION: InterferenceAnalyzer provides easy access to the powerful and appropriate statistical tools for the multi-locus analysis of genetic data

Data from: Phylogenetic ANCOVA: estimating changes in evolutionary rates as well as relationships between traits

We present a new phylogenetic comparative method—phylogenetic analysis of covariance (PANCOVA)—that uses interspecific data and a phylogeny to estimate the effects of major events on both the rate of phenotypic evolution and the association between traits. It could be used, for example, to model the impact of a key innovation, colonization of a new habitat, or environmental change. The approach is optimized with maximum likelihood and is formulated under the familiar phylogenetic generalized least squares framework, which is flexible and easily extended to incorporate other factors and parameters. As an example, we explore the relationship between parental investment and relative telencephalon size in birds and contrast the results of PANCOVA with those from other phylogenetic comparative methods

A Genomewide Study of Reproductive Barriers Between Allopatric Populations of a Homosporous Fern, Ceratopteris richardii

Biological factors involved in reproductive barriers between two divergent races of Ceratopteris richardii were investigated. We used a combination of spore germination rates, QTL analysis of spore germination rates, and transmission ratio distortion (TRD) of 729 RFLPs, AFLPs, and isozyme markers distributed across the genome on the basis of hybrid populations of 488 doubled haploid lines (DHLs) and 168 F2's. Substantial reproductive barriers were found between the parental races, predominantly in the form of spore inviability (23.7% F1 spore viability). Intrinsic genetic factors such as Bateson–Dobzhansky–Muller (BDM) incompatibilities involving both nuclear–nuclear and nuclear–cytoplasmic factors and chromosomal rearrangements appear to contribute to intrinsic postzygotic isolation. The genomewide distribution patterns of TRD loci support the hypothesis that reproductive barriers are a byproduct of divergence in allopatry and that the strong reproductive barriers are attributable to a small number of genetic elements scattered throughout the genome

Bird phylogeny

Tree calibrated to time for 135 species of birds used in the worked example (branch lengths in units of time: Mya). It corresponds to a pruned tree from Hedges et al. (2015: MBE); see linked paper for reference and further details about the phylogeny

Bird data

Data used for the worked example of the paper. For each of 135 birds species, data on telencephalon mass (lntele), body mass (lnbody), and biparental care (Care) are provided. Continuous measurements (telencephalon and body mass) are log-transformed (Ln). The dataset was originally developed by Shultz & Dunbar (2010: Biol J Linn Soc); see linked paper for reference

Gene Conversion and Crossing Over Along the 405-kb Left Arm of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Chromosome VII

Gene conversions and crossing over were analyzed along 10 intervals in a 405-kb region comprising nearly all of the left arm of chromosome VII in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Crossover interference was detected in all intervals as measured by a reduced number of nonparental ditypes. We have evaluated interference between crossovers in adjacent intervals by methods that retain the information contained in tetrads as opposed to single segregants. Interference was seen between intervals when the distance in the region adjacent to a crossover was <∼35 cM (90 kb). At the met13 locus, which exhibits ∼9% gene conversions, those gene conversions accompanied by crossing over exerted interference in exchanges in an adjacent interval, whereas met13 gene conversions without an accompanying exchange did not show interference. The pattern of exchanges along this chromosome arm can be represented by a counting model in which there are three nonexchange events between adjacent exchanges; however, maximum-likelihood analysis suggests that ∼8–12% of the crossovers on chromosome VII arise by a separate, noninterfering mechanism

Crossover Interference on Nucleolus Organizing Region-Bearing Chromosomes in Arabidopsis

In most eukaryotes, crossovers are not independently distributed along the length of a chromosome. Instead, they appear to avoid close proximity to one another—a phenomenon known as crossover interference. Previously, for three of the five Arabidopsis chromosomes, we measured the strength of interference and suggested a model wherein some crossovers experience interference while others do not. Here we show, using the same model, that the fraction of interference-insensitive crossovers is significantly smaller on the remaining two chromosomes. Since these two chromosomes bear the Arabidopsis NOR domains, the possibility that these chromosomal regions influence interference is discussed

Evolutionary History of Plant Hosts and Fungal Symbionts Predicts the Strength of Mycorrhizal Mutualism

Most plants engage in symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi in soils and net consequences for plants vary widely from mutualism to parasitism. However, we lack a synthetic understanding of the evolutionary and ecological forces driving such variation for this or any other nutritional symbiosis. We used meta-analysis across 646 combinations of plants and fungi to show that evolutionary history explains substantially more variation in plant responses to mycorrhizal fungi than the ecological factors included in this study, such as nutrient fertilization and additional microbes. Evolutionary history also has a different influence on outcomes of ectomycorrhizal versus arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses; the former are best explained by the multiple evolutionary origins of ectomycorrhizal lifestyle in plants, while the latter are best explained by recent diversification in plants; both are also explained by evolution of specificity between plants and fungi. These results provide the foundation for a synthetic framework to predict the outcomes of nutritional mutualisms