Research project The role of structural variation for the origin and evolution of a supergene

Supergenes are sets of loci that can maintain adaptive combinations of traits, because they are inherited as a unit. They govern a wide range of balanced polymorphisms in nature, yet our understanding of supergene evolution remains incomplete. Distyly is a balanced floral polymorphism governed by a supergene and has attracted the attention of many generations of biologists, including Darwin. Here, we aim to study the evolution of the distyly supergene in Linum (wild flaxseed species), with the aim of investigating the role of structural genomic changes for the evolution of the S-locus. We will also test whether introgression has contributed to the evolution of the supergene. To this end, we will use high-quality genomic data and a broad comparative genomic approach. The results are important for an improved understanding of supergene evolution and the origins of coadapted gene complexes.