A selfish genetic element drives recurring selective sweeps in the house mouse

摘要: A selective sweep is the result of strong positive selection rapidly driving newly occurring or standing genetic variants to fixation, and can dramatically alter pattern distribution allelic diversity in a population species. Population-level sequencing data have enabled discoveries sweeps associated with genes involved recent adaptations many In contrast, much debate but little empirical evidence addresses whether “selfish” are capable thereby leaving signatures identical classical – despite being neutral deleterious organismal fitness. Here we show that R2d2, large copy-number variant causes non-random segregation mouse Chromosome 2 during female meiosis due meiotic drive, has driven recurrent while having no discernable effect on We tested multiple closed breeding populations from six outbred backgrounds found alleles R2d2 high copy number (R2d2HC) increase frequency, most cases become fixed significantly fewer generations than be explained by drift. survey 13 natural Europe United States revealed R2d2HC circulating at intermediate frequencies wild; moreover, patterns local haplotype consistent selection. Our results provide direct actively undergoing selfish element, demonstrate drive genomic landscape favor mutations even negative overall Darwinian Further study updated models required clarify relative contributions genes, adaptation drift evolution.