<i>Drosophila simulans</i>: A Species with Improved Resolution in Evolve and Resequence Studies

Abstract

The combination of experimental evolution with high-throughput sequencing of pooled individuals-<i>i.e.</i>, evolve and resequence (E&R)-is a powerful approach to study adaptation from standing genetic variation under controlled, replicated conditions. Nevertheless, E&R studies in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> have frequently resulted in inordinate numbers of candidate SNPs, particularly for complex traits. Here, we contrast the genomic signature of adaptation following ∼60 generations in a novel hot environment for <i>D. melanogaster</i> and <i>D. simulans</i> For <i>D. simulans</i>, the regions carrying putatively selected loci were far more distinct, and thus harbored fewer false positives, than those in <i>D. melanogaster</i> We propose that species without segregating inversions and higher recombination rates, such as <i>D. simulans</i>, are better suited for E&R studies that aim to characterize the genetic variants underlying the adaptive response.