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Is plasticity caused by single genes?

Nature volume 555, pages E19–E20 (2018)Cite this article

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ARISING FROM C. K. Ghalambor et al. Nature 525, 372–375 (2015); doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/nature15256

Whether phenotypic plasticity generally facilitates or hampers adaptive evolution is a matter of much debate. By comparing gene expression changes in guppy populations, Ghalambor et al.1 suggest that ‘adaptive’ plasticity hampers adaptive evolution, whereas ‘non-adaptive’ plasticity facilitates adaptive evolution2. Here, we argue that the classification of individual gene expression changes as representing either adaptive or non-adaptive plasticity is problematic. Instead of indicating adaptive evolution, the expression changes of suites of genes may be caused by potentially random changes in underlying regulatory processes. There is a Reply to this Comment by Ghalambor, C. K. et al. Nature 555, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature25497 (2018).

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Figure 1: Alternative gene regulatory network with identical plastic responses.
Figure 2: Effect of small hormonal differences on gene expression patterns.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands

    J. van Gestel & F. J. Weissing

  2. Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland

    J. van Gestel

  3. Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland

    J. van Gestel

  4. Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study, Amsterdam, 1012 CG, The Netherlands

    F. J. Weissing

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  1. J. van Gestel
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  2. F. J. Weissing
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J.v.G. and F.J.W. both contributed to all aspects of this work.

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Correspondence to F. J. Weissing.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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van Gestel, J., Weissing, F. Is plasticity caused by single genes?. Nature 555, E19–E20 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature25495

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