10/15 Phenotypic Plasticity

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencedirect.com%2Fscience%2Farticle%2Fpii%2FS0960982218309801&psig=AOvVaw32wrIV4W1HqwrnvInzGhsq&ust=1603210946016000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCNDt_KeIwewCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an organism to change its phenotype to fit its environment for better fitness.

The lectures discussed phenotypic plasticity in lava lizards. Researchers looked at three different populations: Pisgah lava flow lizards, off-lava lizards, and Amboy lava flow lizards. They found that the lizards exhibited phenotypic plasticity and were able to change colors to better match their environments. However, they found that Pisgah lava lizards were able to maintain a darker color than other lizards. Through exome sequencing the researchers were able to determine that there is gene variation in the PREP and PRKAR1A genes in the Pisgah lava flow lizards. These variations were not found in either the off-lava or Amboy lava flow lizard populations. This led the researchers to believe that the variations were de novo in the Pisgah lava flow lizards. An interesting part of this mutation that was not mentioned in the video abstract is that it does not change the proteins found in the lizards but instead alters the expression of the gene. The researchers concluded that phenotypic plasticity plays a large part in the lizards coloration but the coloration is also influenced by their genes. They also believe that this particular trait could follow the plasticity first model and that the phenotypic plasticity influences the development and presence of the genetic variation in the Pisgah lava flow lizards.