Testing for adaptive evolution of the female reproductive protein ZPC in mammals, birds and fishes reveals problems with the M7-M8 likelihood ratio test.

摘要: Adaptive evolution appears to be a common feature of reproductive proteins across very wide range organisms. A promising way addressing the evolutionary forces responsible for this general phenomenon is test adaptive in same gene but among groups species, which differ their biology. One can then hypotheses by asking whether variation consistent with We have attempted apply approach study female protein, zona pellucida C (ZPC), has been previously shown use likelihood ratio tests (LRTs) under positive selection mammals. tested evidence ZPC 15 mammalian 11 avian species and six fish using three different LRTs (M1a-M2a, M7-M8, M8a-M8). The only significant findings came from M7-M8 mammals fishes. Since may yield false positives some situations, we examined properties several simulation methods. When simulated data robustness LRTs, found that pattern generates an excess LRT not M1a-M2a or M8a-M8 LRTs. This bias strong enough generated results conclude there no any vertebrate studied, biased towards inference certain patterns non-adaptive evolution.