3,134 publications from this institution
Genomic evolution can be highly heterogeneous. Here, we introduce a new framework to simulate genome-wide sequence evolution under a variety of substitution models that may change along the genome and the phylogeny, following complex multispecies coalescent histories that can include recombination, demographics, longitudinal sampling, population subdivision/species history, and migration. A key aspect of our simulation strategy is that the heterogeneity of the whole evolutionary process can be parameterized according to statistical prior distributions specified by the user. We used this framework to carry out a study of the impact of variable codon frequencies across genomic regions on the estimation of the genome-wide nonsynonymous/synonymous ratio. We found that both variable codon frequencies across genes and rate variation among sites and regions can lead to severe underestimation of the global dN/dS values. The program SGWE-Simulation of Genome-Wide Evolution-is freely available from http://code.google.com/p/sgwe-project/, including extensive documentation and detailed examples.
For a quantitative trait under stabilizing selection, the effect of epistasis on its genetic architecture and on the changes of genetic variance caused by bottlenecking were investigated using theory and simulation. Assuming empirical estimates of the rate and effects of mutations and the intensity of selection, we assessed the impact of two-locus epistasis (synergistic/antagonistic) among linked or unlinked loci on the distribution of effects and frequencies of segregating loci in populations at the mutation-selection-drift balance. Strong pervasive epistasis did not modify substantially the genetic properties of the trait and, therefore, the most likely explanation for the low amount of variation usually accounted by the loci detected in genome-wide association analyses is that many causal loci will pass undetected. We investigated the impact of epistasis on the changes in genetic variance components when large populations were subjected to successive bottlenecks of different sizes, considering the action of genetic drift, operating singly (D), or jointly with mutation (MD) and selection (MSD). An initial increase of the different components of the genetic variance, as well as a dramatic acceleration of the between-line divergence, were always associated with synergistic epistasis but were strongly constrained by selection.
Abstract Recent experimental findings suggest that the assumption of a homogeneous recombination rate along the human genome is too naive. These findings point to block-structured recombination rates; certain regions (called hotspots) are more prone than other regions to recombination. In this report a coalescent model incorporating hotspot or block-structured recombination is developed and investigated analytically as well as by simulation. Our main results can be summarized as follows: (1) The expected number of recombination events is much lower in a model with pure hotspot recombination than in a model with pure homogeneous recombination, (2) hotspots give rise to large variation in recombination rates along the genome as well as in the number of historical recombination events, and (3) the size of a (nonrecombining) block in the hotspot model is likely to be overestimated grossly when estimated from SNP data. The results are discussed with reference to the current debate about block-structured recombination and, in addition, the results are compared to genome-wide variation in recombination rates. A number of new analytical results about the model are derived.
A particular method of communication between PC and PLC is given, and program based upon Visual C++ is introduced to realize Socket communication between them in FINS protocol. In this method, the PLC can be monitored effectively in real time and the control capability of PLC can be enhanced. As an application in some warship simulation training system, the program is flexible and convenient. The system cost can be saved and the design can be simplified.
This study assesses potential ecological risk of resuspended sediment in the water column during the construction of a viaduct in the estuary of the Ulla river (Galicia, NW Iberian Peninsula), a shellfish production area. Chemical analyses and toxicity bioassays with elutriates were performed with sediments from the area where the three pillars of the viaduct will be located (CT1, CT2 and CT3) and a reference sediment (A2). Acute toxicity of the elutriate was evaluated in five species of three trophic levels (Isochrysis galbana, Paracentrotus lividus, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Venerupis pullastra and Siriella armata). The sediments of the pillars showed moderate levels of contamination by trace elements (Cu, Cr). Clam and sea urchin embryo-larval toxicity tests showed slightly higher sensitivity than mussel embryo tests, and toxicity was not detected for phytoplankton and mysid bioassays. The predicted no-effect environmental concentration (PNEC) was calculated from the arithmetic mean of the lowest calculated EC(50)s for each sampling site. The predicted environmental concentration (PEC) was estimated from a simple dilution model and the PEC/PNEC ratio was calculated according to different scenarios of resuspension. Negligible ecological risk in the water column is expected during construction of the pillars.
Genetic sequence data have become widely used in evaluating the unique relationship between geography and evolutionary history for conservation of species. Traditional methods, such as bifurcating trees and Wright's F-statistics, often fall short in detailing past and contemporary events and contribute little intraspecific information (Posada and Crandall 2001; Pearse and Crandall 2004). Phylogenetic techniques, when applied in lower level systematic studies, show poor resolution, often resulting in polytomies and ambiguous connections (Crandall et al. 1994). This is particularly the case when species have recently diverged or have complicated metapopulation structure, in which case, bifurcating trees do not have the ability to accurately depict their evolutionary history (Posada and Crandall 2001). Despite this lack of resolution, broad geographic patterns can still be elucidated for older taxa using phylogenetic approaches. The field of phylogeography began by overlaying phylogenies onto geography and making broad inferences about evolutionary histories of species and populations (Avise 1989). This approach, however, does not provide the opportunity to (1) statistically test the null hypothesis of no geographic association between populations, (2) test whether samples (number of individuals and collection localities) are sufficient, or (3) infer historical and contemporary processes and patterns that dictate current genetic variation (Carbone and Kohn 2004). However, approaches such as Nested Clade Analysis (NCA: Templeton et al. 1995), also known as Nested Clade Phylogeographic Analysis or NCPA (Templeton 2004), provide a statistical framework in which to test hypotheses about historical events and current population structure within species.
