Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40129241›Full record

ArticleMolecular ecology resources2025

Strong Signatures of Selection on Candidate Genes Underlying Core Speciation Mechanisms in Desert Tortoises.

Sarah M Baty, Raúl Araya-Donoso, Avery Paulsen, Avery Williams, Dale F DeNardo, Kenro Kusumi, Greer A Dolby

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular ecology resources, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sarah M BatySchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1635-7082
Raúl Araya-DonosoSchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4562-6061
Avery PaulsenSchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
Avery WilliamsDepartment of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4987-0600
Dale F DeNardoSchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
Kenro KusumiSchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1458-4540
Greer A DolbySchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5923-0690

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Genomic incompatibilities and differential ecological adaptation are thought to be fundamental mechanisms of speciation. In this study, we generated a chromosome-scale reference genome and annotation for Gopherus morafkai , the Sonoran Desert tortoise, and conducted a detailed analysis of genes under positive selection with its sister species, the Mojave Desert tortoise. They occupy desert habitats with differing seasonal rainfall patterns and have considerable behavioural and reproductive differences, yet maintain a narrow hybrid zone. We find high conservation of synteny with other chelonian species. Results show extensive positive selection (422 candidate genes) relating to eye development and function that may reflect differences in UV exposure, as well as core reproductive isolation mechanisms of sperm-egg recognition, spindle assembly checkpoint and sister chromatid pairing. Together, our results offer strong genomic support and speciation genomic resources for processes shaping reproductive isolation in chelonians.

Indexed as

Genetic SpeciationSelection, GeneticTurtlesAnimalsDesert ClimateGopheruspostzygoticprezygoticreinforcementspeciationspindle assembly checkpoint

Identifiers

PMID40129241
PMCPMC12225707

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.