Evolution of genes involved in the unusual genitals of the bear macaque, Macaca arctoides

Genital divergence is thought to contribute to reproductive barriers by establishing a lock-and-key mechanism for reproductive compatibility. One such example, Macaca arctoides, the bear macaque, has compensatory changes in both male and female genital morphology as compared to close relatives. M. arctoides also has a complex evolutionary history, having extensive introgression between the fascicularis and sinica macaque species groups. Here, phylogenetic relationships were analyzed via whole-genome sequences from five species, including M. arctoides, and two species each from the putative parental species groups. This analysis revealed similar to 3x more genomic regions supported placement in the sinica species group as compared to the fascicularis species group. Additionally, introgression analysis of the M. arctoides genome revealed it is a mosaic of recent polymorphisms shared with both species groups. To examine the evolution of their unique genital morphology further, the prevalence of candidate genes involved in genital morphology was compared against genome-wide outliers in various population genetic metrics of diversity, divergence, introgression, and selection, while accounting for background variation in recombination rate. This analysis identified 67 outlier genes, including several genes that influence baculum morphology in mice, which were of interest since the bear macaque has the longest primate baculum. The mean of four of the seven population genetic metrics was statistically different in the candidate genes as compared to the rest of the genome, suggesting that genes involved in genital morphology have increased divergence and decreased diversity beyond expectations. These results highlight specific genes that may have played a role in shaping the unique genital morphology in the bear macaque.

Automated summary

Genital divergence plays an important role in reproductive isolation by establishing a lock-and-key mechanism for reproductive compatibility. The bear macaque, Macaca arctoides, has unique male and female genital morphology compared to its close relatives. Through whole-genome sequence analysis, it was found that M. arctoides shares more genomic regions with the sinica species group than the fascicularis species group. The bear macaque genome also shows evidence of extensive introgression between these two species groups.