Abstract
The fate of duplicated genes includes pseudo-, sub-, or neo-functionalization. When different copies of a duplicated gene are pseudo-functionalized in different genotypes, genetic incompatibilities can arise in their hybrid offspring. While such cases have been reported after manual crosses, it remains unclear whether they occur in nature and how they affect natural populations. Using the Arabidopsis multi-parental RIL population, we identified four duplicated-gene based incompatibilities including one previously not reported. Unexpectedly, however, for each of the genetic incompatibilities we found incompatible allele combinations in natural Arabidopsis accessions. Using the incompatible allele combinations as phenotypes for GWAS, we mapped genomic regions containing additional gene copies, which rescue the incompatible allele combinations. Reconstructing the geographic origins of the individual alleles suggested that incompatible alleles co-exist in nature, and that their effects can be overcome by additional gene copies collectively shaping the evolutionary dynamics of duplicated genes during population history.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.