Genomic characterization of developmental and adaptation genes: insights into vertebrate evolution
In this thesis molecular evidences related with the adaptive evolution of vertebrates are presented. In the first part, we studied the retinoid X receptors (RXR), rhodopsin 1 (RH1) and superoxide dismutases (SOD) and the results highlighted adaptive evolution as an important mechanism during the evolution of these essential development and adaptation related vertebrate genes. In the second part of the thesis, evidence is provided on how adaptive evolution may influence teleost fish radiations, namely with studies of the evolutionary diversification of 34 lateral line development genes, and two detailed case studies on the radiations of the endangered red lined torpedo barbs and the malabar snakehead fish, both endemic to the Western Ghats of India.