Changes in Genetic Variation Induced by Drift

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Walsh ◽  
Michael Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Variance

In the absence of the input of new variation, drift eventually removes all of the additive-genetic variance in a population. When nonadditive genetic variance is present, some of this variation can be transiently converted into additive variance, resulting in the latter occasionally increasingly (for a time) under inbreeding. This chapter examines the conditions under which such a conversion can occur, which leads to a discussion of the more complex covariances between inbred relatives, requiring the introduction of several new genetic-variance components to be introduced. It also examines the expected equilibrium levels of additive variance under drift-mutation equilibrium.

Genetic variation within and between subpopulations of the Australian Merino breed

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Swan ◽  
Daniel J. Brown ◽  
Julius H. J. van der Werf
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Genetic Group ◽  
Additive Variance ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Genetic Groups ◽  
Australian Merino

Genetic variation within and between Australian Merino subpopulations was estimated from a large breeding nucleus in which up to 8500 progeny from over 300 sires were recorded at eight sites across Australia. Subpopulations were defined as genetic groups using the Westell–Quaas model in which base animals with unknown pedigree were allocated to groups based on their flock of origin if there were sufficient ‘expressions’ for the flock, or to one of four broad sheep-type groups otherwise (Ultra/Superfine, Fine/Fine-medium, Medium/Strong, or unknown). Linear models including genetic groups and additive genetic breeding values as random effects were used to estimate variance components for 12 traits: yearling greasy and clean fleece weight (ygfw and ycfw), yearling mean and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (yfd and ydcv), yearling staple length and staple strength (ysl and yss), yearling fibre curvature (ycuv), yearling body wrinkle (ybdwr), post-weaning weight (pwt), muscle (pemd) and fat depth (pfat), and post-weaning worm egg count (pwec). For the majority of traits, the genetic group variance ranged from approximately equal to two times larger than the additive genetic (within group) variance. The exceptions were pfat and ydcv where the genetic group to additive variance ratios were 0.58 and 0.22, respectively, and pwec and yss where there was no variation between genetic groups. Genetic group correlations between traits were generally the same sign as corresponding additive genetic correlations, but were stronger in magnitude (either more positive or more negative). These large differences between genetic groups have long been exploited by Merino ram breeders, to the extent that the animals in the present study represent a significantly admixed population of the founding groups. The relativities observed between genetic group and additive genetic variance components in this study can be used to refine the models used to estimate breeding values for the Australian Merino industry.

scholarly journals How does parental environment influence the potential for adaptation to global change?

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1886) ◽  
pp. 20181374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evatt Chirgwin ◽  
Dustin J. Marshall ◽  
Carla M. Sgrò ◽  
Keyne Monro
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Global Change ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Parental Exposure ◽  
Future Warming ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Negative Impacts

Parental environments are regularly shown to alter the mean fitness of offspring, but their impacts on the genetic variation for fitness, which predicts adaptive capacity and is also measured on offspring, are unclear. Consequently, how parental environments mediate adaptation to environmental stressors, like those accompanying global change, is largely unknown. Here, using an ecologically important marine tubeworm in a quantitative-genetic breeding design, we tested how parental exposure to projected ocean warming alters the mean survival, and genetic variation for survival, of offspring during their most vulnerable life stage under current and projected temperatures. Offspring survival was higher when parent and offspring temperatures matched. Across offspring temperatures, parental exposure to warming altered the distribution of additive genetic variance for survival, making it covary across current and projected temperatures in a way that may aid adaptation to future warming. Parental exposure to warming also amplified nonadditive genetic variance for survival, suggesting that compatibilities between parental genomes may grow increasingly important under future warming. Our study shows that parental environments potentially have broader-ranging effects on adaptive capacity than currently appreciated, not only mitigating the negative impacts of global change but also reshaping the raw fuel for evolutionary responses to it.

Comparison of F2 and F∞ diallel analyses in barley

Genome ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 865-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Choo ◽  
E. Reinbergs ◽  
P. Y. Jui
Keyword(s):  
Hordeum Vulgare ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Heading Date ◽  
Diallel Analysis ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Hill Plots

A study was conducted in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to compare the relative magnitudes of heterosis to additive × additive epistasis and to compare F2 and F∞, diallel analyses. Both F2 and F∞, progenies were derived from 7 × 7 diallel crosses. Progenies and their parents were evaluated for grain yield, heading date, plant height, and the number of spikes per hill in hill plots with five replications at Elora (Ontario) in 1978. Results suggested that additive × additive epistasis were present for these traits and its magnitude was similar to that of heterosis estimated in F2. Both F2 and F∞ analyses detected the presence of epistasis. Both analyses provided similar estimates of the additive genetic variance for heading date and the number of spikes per hill, but the F2 analysis provided higher estimates than the F∞ analysis for grain yield and plant height. The estimate for grain yield and plant height obtained from the F2 analysis could be biased upward because of the invalid assumption of no epistasis. Estimates of other genetic variance components from the F2 analysis could be biased also. The F∞ diallel analysis not only provided estimates of additive × additive genetic variance for the four traits, it also allowed detection of nonindependent gene distribution in the parents for three of the four traits. Therefore, the limitations of the F2 diallel analysis in the presence of epistasis were apparent in the study. The F2 diallel analysis, however, could be used to detect dominance and maternal effects and thus to complement the F∞ diallel analysisKey words: barley, Hordeum vulgare, diallels, haploids, epistasis, heterosis.

Quantitative inheritance studies in sugar-cane. I. Estimation of variance components

1971 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
DM Hogarth
Keyword(s):  
Factorial Design ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
The Other ◽  
Quantitative Inheritance ◽  
Genetic Determination ◽  
Nested Design ◽  
Dominance Genetic Variance ◽  
Estimation Of Variance

Two experiments in quantitative genetics were conducted, one based on a nested design in lattice squares and the other on a factorial design in a balanced lattice. Lattice designs were found to be suitable for genetic experiments if a large number of crosses was involved, but posed some problems in partitioning the sum of squares for treatments. The factorial design was considered preferable to the nested design, although neither design permitted estimation of epistatic variances which, therefore, were assumed to be negligible. Additive genetic variance was found to be more important than dominance genetic variance for most characters. However, most estimates of genetic variance lacked precision in spite of the use of large, precise experiments, which illustrated the difficulty in obtaining estimates of variance components with adequate precision. The validity of assumptions made for these analyses is discussed. The effect of competition was studied and estimates of heritability and degree of genetic determination were determined.

scholarly journals Deleterious mutations, apparent stabilizing selection and the maintenance of quantitative variation.

Genetics ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 603-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
A S Kondrashov ◽  
M Turelli
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Pleiotropic Effects ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Selection Function ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Deleterious Mutations ◽  
Additive Variance ◽  
Deleterious Alleles

Abstract Apparent stabilizing selection on a quantitative trait that is not causally connected to fitness can result from the pleiotropic effects of unconditionally deleterious mutations, because as N. Barton noted, "...individuals with extreme values of the trait will tend to carry more deleterious alleles...." We use a simple model to investigate the dependence of this apparent selection on the genomic deleterious mutation rate, U; the equilibrium distribution of K, the number of deleterious mutations per genome; and the parameters describing directional selection against deleterious mutations. Unlike previous analyses, we allow for epistatic selection against deleterious alleles. For various selection functions and realistic parameter values, the distribution of K, the distribution of breeding values for a pleiotropically affected trait, and the apparent stabilizing selection function are all nearly Gaussian. The additive genetic variance for the quantitative trait is kQa2, where k is the average number of deleterious mutations per genome, Q is the proportion of deleterious mutations that affect the trait, and a2 is the variance of pleiotropic effects for individual mutations that do affect the trait. In contrast, when the trait is measured in units of its additive standard deviation, the apparent fitness function is essentially independent of Q and a2; and beta, the intensity of selection, measured as the ratio of additive genetic variance to the "variance" of the fitness curve, is very close to s = U/k, the selection coefficient against individual deleterious mutations at equilibrium. Therefore, this model predicts appreciable apparent stabilizing selection if s exceeds about 0.03, which is consistent with various data. However, the model also predicts that beta must equal Vm/VG, the ratio of new additive variance for the trait introduced each generation by mutation to the standing additive variance. Most, although not all, estimates of this ratio imply apparent stabilizing selection weaker than generally observed. A qualitative argument suggests that even when direct selection is responsible for most of the selection observed on a character, it may be essentially irrelevant to the maintenance of variation for the character by mutation-selection balance. Simple experiments can indicate the fraction of observed stabilizing selection attributable to the pleiotropic effects of deleterious mutations.

scholarly journals Estimation of variance components for bodyweight of grasscutters using expectation maximization algorithm of restricted maximum likelihood

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
I. Udeh
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Expectation Maximization ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Expectation Maximization Algorithm ◽  
Estimation Of Variance ◽  
Selection Of

The objective of this study was to estimate the variance components and heritability of bodyweight of grasscutters at 4, 6 and 8 months of age using EM algorithm of REML procedures. The data used for the study were obtained from the bodyweight records of 20 grasscutters from four families at 4, 6 and 8 months of age. The heritability of bodyweight of grasscutters at 4, 6 and 8 months of age were 0.14, 0.10 and 0.12 respectively. This implies that about 10 – 14 % of the phenotypic variability of body weight in this grasscutter population was accounted by additive genetic variance while environmental and gene combination variance made a larger contribution. The implication is that selection of grasscutters in this population should not be based on the information on the animals alone but also information fromits relatives.

scholarly journals Low adaptive potential for tolerance to ethynylestradiol, but also low toxicity, in a grayling population (Thymallus thymallus)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Marques da Cunha ◽  
Diane Maitre ◽  
Claus Wedekind
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Continuous Selection ◽  
Embryo Viability ◽  
Thymallus Thymallus ◽  
Synthetic Compound ◽  
Additive Variance

Abstract Background: The presence of a novel pollutant can induce rapid evolution if there is additive genetic variance for the tolerance to the stressor. Continuous selection over some generations can then reduce the toxicity of the pollutant but also deplete the additive genetic variance for the tolerance and thereby slow down adaptation. One common pollutant that has been ecologically relevant for some time is 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic compound of oral contraceptives since their market launch in the 1960s. EE2 is typically found in higher concentrations in rivers than in lakes. Recent experimental work revealed significant genetic variance for the tolerance to EE2 in two lake-spawning salmonid species but no such variance in river-spawning brown trout. We used another river-spawning salmonid, the European grayling Thymallus thymallus, to study the toxicity of an ecologically relevant concentration of EE2. We also used a full-factorial in vitro breeding design and singly rearing of 1,555 embryos and larvae of 40 sib groups to test whether there is additive genetic variance for the tolerance to this pollutant. Results: We found that exposure to EE2 reduced larval growth after hatching, but contrary to what has been found in the other salmonids, there were no significant effects of EE2 on embryo growth and survival. We found additive genetic variance for embryo viability, i.e. heritability for fitness. However, there was no significant additive variance for the tolerance to EE2. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that continuous selection has reduced the toxicity of EE2 and depleted genetic variance for tolerance to this synthetic stressor.

scholarly journals Autosomal and X-Linked Additive Genetic Variation for Lifespan and Aging: Comparisons Within and Between the Sexes in Drosophila melanogaster

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 3903-3911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M Griffin ◽  
Holger Schielzeth ◽  
Urban Friberg
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Dosage Compensation ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Substitution Lines ◽  
Chromosome Substitution Lines ◽  
Sexually Antagonistic Selection

Abstract Theory makes several predictions concerning differences in genetic variation between the X chromosome and the autosomes due to male X hemizygosity. The X chromosome should: (i) typically show relatively less standing genetic variation than the autosomes, (ii) exhibit more variation in males compared to females because of dosage compensation, and (iii) potentially be enriched with sex-specific genetic variation. Here, we address each of these predictions for lifespan and aging in Drosophila melanogaster. To achieve unbiased estimates of X and autosomal additive genetic variance, we use 80 chromosome substitution lines; 40 for the X chromosome and 40 combining the two major autosomes, which we assay for sex-specific and cross-sex genetic (co)variation. We find significant X and autosomal additive genetic variance for both traits in both sexes (with reservation for X-linked variation of aging in females), but no conclusive evidence for depletion of X-linked variation (measured through females). Males display more X-linked variation for lifespan than females, but it is unclear if this is due to dosage compensation since also autosomal variation is larger in males. Finally, our results suggest that the X chromosome is enriched for sex-specific genetic variation in lifespan but results were less conclusive for aging overall. Collectively, these results suggest that the X chromosome has reduced capacity to respond to sexually concordant selection on lifespan from standing genetic variation, while its ability to respond to sexually antagonistic selection may be augmented.

Estimation of additive and dominance genetic variance components for female fertility traits in Iranian Holstein cows

2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-569
Author(s):  
H. Ghiasi ◽  
R. Abdollahi-Arpanahi ◽  
M. Razmkabir ◽  
M. Khaldari ◽  
R. Taherkhani
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Variance Components ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Genetic Effects ◽  
Information Criteria ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Dominance Variance ◽  
Dominance Genetic Variance ◽  
Estimated Heritability

AbstractThe aim of the current study was to estimate additive and dominance genetic variance components for days from calving to first service (DFS), a number of services to conception (NSC) and days open (DO). Data consisted of 25 518 fertility records from first parity dairy cows collected from 15 large Holstein herds of Iran. To estimate the variance components, two models, one including only additive genetic effects and another fitting both additive and dominance genetic effects together, were used. The additive and dominance relationship matrices were constructed using pedigree data. The estimated heritability for DFS, NSC and DO were 0.068, 0.035 and 0.067, respectively. The differences between estimated heritability using the additive genetic and additive-dominance genetic models were negligible regardless of the trait under study. The estimated dominance variance was larger than the estimated additive genetic variance. The ratio of dominance variance to phenotypic variance was 0.260, 0.231 and 0.196 for DFS, NSC and DO, respectively. Akaike's information criteria indicated that the model fitting both additive and dominance genetic effects is the best model for analysing DFS, NSC and DO. Spearman's rank correlations between the predicted breeding values (BV) from additive and additive-dominance models were high (0.99). Therefore, ranking of the animals based on predicted BVs was the same in both models. The results of the current study confirmed the importance of taking dominance variance into account in the genetic evaluation of dairy cows.

scholarly journals Genetic variation in varying environments

1981 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trudy F. C. Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Environmental Variability ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Environmental Variation ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Varying Environments

SUMMARYIn order to assess the relationship between genetic and environmental variability, a large natural population of Drosophila melanogaster was replicated as eight subpopulations, which were subjected to four different patterns of environmental variation. The environmental variable imposed was presence of 15% ethanol in the culture medium. Experimental treatments of the populations were intended to simulate constant environmental conditions, spatial heterogeneity in the environment, and two patterns of temporal environmental variation with different periodicity (long- and short-term temporal variation). Additive genetic and phenotypic variation in sternopleural and abdominal chaeta number, and body weight, were estimated in two successive years, and measurements were taken of the genotype–environment correlation of body weight and sternopleural bristle score with medium type.Additive genetic variance of sternopleural chaeta number and of body weight was significantly greater in the three populations experiencing environmental heterogeneity than in the control population, but additive genetic variance of abdominal bristle score was not clearly affected by exposing populations to varying environments. Temporal environmental variation was equally, if not more, efficient in promoting the maintenance of genetic variation than spatial heterogeneity, but the cycle length of the temporal variation was of no consequence. Specific genotype–environment interactions were not present, therefore adaptation to heterogeneous environments is by selection of heterozygosity per se, rather than by differential survival of genotypes in the alternate niches.

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