Molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution in wild animals and plants

• Published in: Science China. Life sciences Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 453 - 495
• Main Authors: Hu, Yibo, Wang, Xiaoping, Xu, Yongchao, Yang, Hui, Tong, Zeyu, Tian, Ran, Xu, Shaohua, Yu, Li, Guo, Yalong, Shi, Peng, Huang, Shuangquan, Yang, Guang, Shi, Suhua, Wei, Fuwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Science China Press 01.03.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Animals, Wild - genetics; Aquatic Organisms - genetics; Biological Coevolution - genetics; Biological Evolution; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Coevolution; Computational Biology - methods; Convergence; Developmental biology; Ecology - methods; Ecology - trends; Evolution; Evolution & development; Gene mapping; Genome, Plant - genetics; Genomes; Life history; Life Sciences; Molecular modelling; Parasitism; Phenotype; Predation; Review; molecular mechanism; phenotype convergence; adaptive trait; coevolution; convergent evolution; genetic convergence; parasitism; adaptive evolution; comparative genomics; mutualism
• ISSN: 1674-7305; 1869-1889; 1869-1889
• DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2233-x

Wild animals and plants have developed a variety of adaptive traits driven by adaptive evolution, an important strategy for species survival and persistence. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution is the key to understanding species diversification, phenotypic convergence, and inter-species interaction. As the genome sequences of more and more non-model organisms are becoming available, the focus of studies on molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution has shifted from the candidate gene method to genetic mapping based on genome-wide scanning. In this study, we reviewed the latest research advances in wild animals and plants, focusing on adaptive traits, convergent evolution, and coevolution. Firstly, we focused on the adaptive evolution of morphological, behavioral, and physiological traits. Secondly, we reviewed the phenotypic convergences of life history traits and responding to environmental pressures, and the underlying molecular convergence mechanisms. Thirdly, we summarized the advances of coevolution, including the four main types: mutualism, parasitism, predation and competition. Overall, these latest advances greatly increase our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms for diverse adaptive traits and species interaction, demonstrating that the development of evolutionary biology has been greatly accelerated by multi-omics technologies. Finally, we highlighted the emerging trends and future prospects around the above three aspects of adaptive evolution.