The complexity of the genetic basis of quantitative trait variation

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12
Author(s):  
Akira ISHIKAWA
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Trait Variation

scholarly journals Limited genetic parallels underlie convergent evolution of quantitative pattern variation in mimetic butterflies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah E. Bainbridge ◽  
Melanie N. Brien ◽  
Carlos Morochz ◽  
Patricio A. Salazar ◽  
Pasi Rastas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Trait Locus ◽  
Qtl Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Multivariate Approach ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Heliconius Melpomene ◽  
Trait Locus

AbstractMimetic systems allow us to address the question of whether the same genes control similar phenotypes in different species. Although widespread parallels have been found for major effect loci, much less is known about genes that control quantitative trait variation. In this study, we identify and compare the loci that control subtle changes in the size and shape of forewing pattern elements in two Heliconius butterfly co-mimics. We use quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis with a multivariate phenotyping approach to map the variation in red pattern elements across the whole forewing surface of Heliconius erato and Heliconius melpomene. These results are compared to a QTL analysis of univariate trait changes, and show that our resolution for identifying small effect loci is improved with the multivariate approach. QTL likely corresponding to the known patterning gene optix were found in both species but otherwise, a remarkably low level of genetic parallelism was found. This lack of similarity indicates that the genetic basis of convergent traits may not be as predictable as assumed from studies that focus solely on Mendelian traits.

scholarly journals Genetic Basis of Transcriptome Diversity in Drosophila melanogaster

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Huang ◽  
Mary Anna Carbone ◽  
Michael Magwire ◽  
Jason Peiffer ◽  
Richard Lyman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Regulatory Variants ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Mean And Variance ◽  
The Mean

Understanding how DNA sequence variation is translated into variation for complex phenotypes has remained elusive, but is essential for predicting adaptive evolution, selecting agriculturally important animals and crops, and personalized medicine. Here, we quantified genome-wide variation in gene expression in the sequenced inbred lines of the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP). We found that a substantial fraction of the Drosophila transcriptome is genetically variable and organized into modules of genetically correlated transcripts, which provide functional context for newly identified transcribed regions. We identified regulatory variants for the mean and variance of gene expression, the latter of which could often be explained by an epistatic model. Expression quantitative trait loci for the mean, but not the variance, of gene expression were concentrated near genes. This comprehensive characterization of population scale diversity of transcriptomes and its genetic basis in the DGRP is critically important for a systems understanding of quantitative trait variation.

Quantitative Trait Loci for Susceptibility to Tapeworm Infection in the Red Flour Beetle

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 165 (3) ◽  
pp. 1307-1315
Author(s):  
Daibin Zhong ◽  
Aditi Pai ◽  
Guiyun Yan
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Trait Loci ◽  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Red Flour Beetle ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Flour Beetle ◽  
Trait Loci ◽  
Host Ecology ◽  
Tapeworm Infection

Abstract Parasites have profound effects on host ecology and evolution, and the effects of parasites on host ecology are often influenced by the magnitude of host susceptibility to parasites. Many parasites have complex life cycles that require intermediate hosts for their transmission, but little is known about the genetic basis of the intermediate host's susceptibility to these parasites. This study examined the genetic basis of susceptibility to a tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta) in the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) that serves as an intermediate host in its transmission. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping experiments were conducted with two independent segregating populations using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of five QTL that significantly affected beetle susceptibility were identified in the two reciprocal crosses. Two common QTL on linkage groups 3 and 6 were identified in both crosses with similar effects on the phenotype, and three QTL were unique to each cross. In one cross, the three main QTL accounted for 29% of the total phenotypic variance and digenic epistasis explained 39% of the variance. In the second cross, the four main QTL explained 62% of the variance and digenic epistasis accounted for only 5% of the variance. The actions of these QTL were either overdominance or underdominance. Our results suggest that the polygenic nature of beetle susceptibility to the parasites and epistasis are important genetic mechanisms for the maintenance of variation within or among beetle strains in susceptibility to tapeworm infection.

scholarly journals Short communication: QTL mapping for ear tip-barrenness in maize

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e07SC01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junqiang Ding ◽  
Jinliang Ma ◽  
Jiafa Chen ◽  
Tangshun Ai ◽  
Zhimin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Genotypic Variation ◽  
Interval Mapping ◽  
Mapping Method ◽  
Additive Effects ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Model Composite

Barren tip on corn ear is an important agronomic trait in maize, which is highly associated with grain yield. Understanding the genetic basis of tip-barrenness may help to reduce the ear tip-barrenness in breeding programs. In this study, ear tip-barrenness was evaluated in two environments in a F2:3 population, and it showed significant genotypic variation for ear tip-barrenness in both environments. Using mixed-model composite interval mapping method, three additive effects quantitative trait loci (QTL) for ear tip-barrenness were mapped on chromosomes 2, 3 and 6, respectively. They explained 16.6% of the phenotypic variation, and no significant QTL × Environment interactions and digenic interactions were detected. The results indicated that additive effect was the main genetic basis for ear tip-barrenness in maize. This is the first report of QTL mapped for ear tip-barrenness in maize.

scholarly journals Linkage mapping of quantitative trait loci for fiber yield and its related traits in the population derived from cultivated ramie and wild B. nivea var. tenacissima

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Zeng ◽  
Yanzhou Wang ◽  
Chan Liu ◽  
Xiufeng Yang ◽  
Hengyun Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Linkage Mapping ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Stem Bark ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Fiber Yield ◽  
Wild Allele ◽  
Trait Locus ◽  
Genomic Regions

AbstractRamie is an important natural fiber crop, and the fiber yield and its related traits are the most valuable traits in ramie production. However, the genetic basis for these traits is still poorly understood, which has dramatically hindered the breeding of high yield in this fiber crop. Herein, a high-density genetic map with 6,433 markers spanning 2476.5 cM was constructed using a population derived from two parents, cultivated ramie Zhongsizhu 1 (ZSZ1) and its wild progenitor B. nivea var. tenacissima (BNT). The fiber yield (FY) and its four related traits—stem diameter (SD) and length (SL), stem bark weight (BW) and thickness (BT)—were performed for quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis, resulting in a total of 47 QTLs identified. Forty QTLs were mapped into 12 genomic regions, thus forming 12 QTL clusters. Among 47 QTLs, there were 14 QTLs whose wild allele from BNT was beneficial. Interestingly, all QTLs in Cluster 10 displayed overdominance, indicating that the region of this cluster was likely heterotic loci. In addition, four fiber yield-related genes underwent positive selection were found either to fall into the FY-related QTL regions or to be near to the identified QTLs. The dissection of FY and FY-related traits not only improved our understanding to the genetic basis of these traits, but also provided new insights into the domestication of FY in ramie. The identification of many QTLs and the discovery of beneficial alleles from wild species provided a basis for the improvement of yield traits in ramie breeding.

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