Data from: Use of ddPCR in experimental evolution studies

Experimental evolution is an important research framework for evolutionary biologists as it allows direct testing of fundamental theories about adaptation and diversity, which often requires the tracking of genotypes or alleles over time. This however requires tools such as genetic markers, distinguishable morphological characters or genotyping, which can be time and labour intensive, and especially if high-throughput processing is necessary. Here, we present a novel approach of combining multiplex ddPCR with experimental evolution for tracking genotype frequencies in different experimental populations over time. We found this method to be both precise and accurate for detecting and quantifying targets of interest, especially as compared to traditional PCR methods. The use of multiplex ddPCR to follow frequencies can be used for a wide range of experimental evolution applications.

实验进化（Experimental evolution）是进化生物学家的重要研究框架，因其可直接检验关于适应与多样性的核心理论，而这类研究通常需要随时间追踪基因型（genotype）与等位基因（allele）的动态变化。但此类研究往往需要借助遗传标记、可区分的形态性状或基因分型等工具，这类工作通常耗时耗力，在需要高通量处理的场景下尤为如此。本文提出一种全新方法，将多重液滴数字PCR（multiplex droplet digital PCR, ddPCR）与实验进化相结合，用于随时间追踪不同实验种群中的基因型频率。本研究发现，相较于传统聚合酶链式反应（PCR）方法，该方法在检测与定量目标靶点时兼具精准性与准确性。该多重ddPCR追踪基因型频率的方法，可应用于众多实验进化研究场景。