Supergenes are groups of genes that neighbor each other on the same chromosome
and share a genetic linkage. The article explains that there are many examples of
supergenes that involve mimicry and this mimicry can cause there to be multiple
correlated traits. The best examples of these supergenes are witnessed in polymorphic
mimetic butterflies and could result from multiple chromosomal rearrangements. For
example, the article speaks about the wing patterns and how these patterns are
influenced based on the rearrangement of the chromosomal patterns.
The article then began to speak about the major historical influences and how over a
hundred years ago there was an argument that tried to dissect Darwinism and give it a
brand-new perspective. There was later an explanation that tried to persuade that
instead of there being a parallel mutation, that it was instead a mimicry that evolved
based on an adaptation of many steps. Through the history of all of this, there was a
great deal of evidence that supported the idea of the origins of supergenes and by the
time we reached the middle of the century, the supergene model was to be considered
a core element of modern synthesis.
Developmental biologist as of late have begun to criticize the supergene hypothesis and
that this supergene in most butterfly polymorphisms was actually a “supposition that the
differences in wing pattern between the various female forms are simply too great to be
accounted for by the effects of a single gene.” This is basically explaining that changes
in the butterflies that has been occurring is too great to be accounted for by one gene
and there must be another explanation. This criticism brought about another definition of
supergenes and this new definition explains this as a genetic architecture where
multiple linked genetic elements allow for switching between discrete, complex
phenotypes maintained in a stable polymorphism.
This is all relative to both this class and also to genetics because in both of these we
discuss the evolution of species and how it is affected and how it is brought about by