Hitchhiking mapping--functional genomics from the population genetics perspective.

Several statistical tests based on population genetic theory are used to identify genes that have recently acquired a beneficial mutation. Here, I describe the extension of these tests to a multilocus approach for a genome-wide survey for genes that have been under recent positive selection. As this strategy could potentially identify genes with weak phenotypic effects, it will be very useful in population genetic approaches aimed at understanding adaptation processes in natural populations. Furthermore, this 'hitchhiking mapping' could also help in the functional characterization of genomes.