ArticleBMC biology2025
Convergent evolution of noncoding elements associated with short tarsus length in birds.
Article in BMC biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- The genetic foundations of convergent traits.Nature reviews. Genetics · 2026Review
- Adaptive loss of function accelerated the evolution of ancient and modern human cognition.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Linking phenotype to genotype using comprehensive genomic comparisons.Current opinion in genetics & development · 2025Review
- From Trees to Traits: A Review of Advances in PhyloG2P Methods and Future Directions.Genome biology and evolution · 2025Review
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3 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundConvergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar traits in unrelated lineages across the Tree of Life. Various genomic signatures can help identify cases of convergent evolution at the molecular level, including changes in substitution rate in the same genes or gene networks. In this study, utilizing tarsus measurements of ~ 5400 species of birds, we identify independent shifts in tarsus length and use both comparative genomic and population genetic data to identify convergent evolutionary changes among focal clades with shifts to shorter optimal tarsus length.
resultsUsing a newly generated, comprehensive and broadly accessible set of 932,467 avian conserved non-exonic elements (CNEEs) and a whole-genome alignment of 79 birds, we find strong evidence for convergent acceleration in short-tarsus clades among 14,422 elements. Analysis of 9854 protein-coding genes, however, yielded no evidence of convergent patterns of positive selection. Accelerated elements in short-tarsus clades are concentrated near genes with functions in development, with the strongest enrichment associated with skeletal system development. Analysis of gene networks supports convergent changes in regulation of broadly homologous limb developmental genes and pathways.
conclusionsOur results highlight the important role of regulatory elements undergoing convergent acceleration in convergent skeletal traits and are consistent with previous studies showing the roles of regulatory elements and skeletal phenotypes.
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