Studies on Maternal and Epigenetic Selection Models

拟议的研究涉及生产一个广义的 哺乳动物身体某些重要发育方面的模型 布局 大多数当前的模型用于理解和 预测复杂形态和生命之间的关系， 历史特征是不够的，因为他们忽视了重要的 发展过程。 目前，大多数型号 忽视了“遗传母体效应”所起的作用， 叫做“表观遗传相互作用”。 的 拟议的研究将提供迄今为止无法提供的 关于遗传母体效应影响的实验数据 随机繁殖的哺乳动物 在一个项目中， 研究人员将使用胚胎移植程序， 不同品系的实验室小鼠提供关键的新数据 基因变异的相对大小 产前和产后母亲对发育的影响 复杂的形态和繁殖特征。 此夕h 研究人员将确定遗传相关性的程度， 这些产前和产后影响之间的联系。 最后，他们会 研究母性效应在几代人中的持续性。 该项目的第二个组成部分涉及理论 探索和计算机模拟的现象， 表观遗传相互作用 这项研究将比较进化 在不同的表观遗传控制模型下做出的预测， 并研究表观遗传选择模型的后果， 主基因和非加性基因效应。 最后，新 实验设计将提供用于估计固有的 以及发育过程中的表观遗传效应。

The proposed research involves production of a generalized model of some important developmental aspects of mammalian body plans. Most current models which to are used to understand and predict relationships among complex morphological and life- history traits are inadequate because they ignore important developmental processes. Specifically, most current models ignore the role played by "genetic maternal effects" and so called "epigenetic interactions" during development. The proposed research will provide heretofore unavailable experimental data on the impact of genetic maternal effects on randombred mammalian organisms. In one project, the investigators will use embryo transfer procedures among several diverse strains of laboratory mice to provide critical new data about the relative magnitude of genetic variation in both prenatal and postnatal maternal effects on the development of complex morphological and reproductive traits. Further, the investigators will determine the extent of genetic correlation between these prenatal and postnatal effects. Finally, they will examine the persistence of maternal effects across generations. The second component of the project involves theoretical explorations and computer simulations about the phenomenon of epigenetic interactions. The research will compare evolutionary predictions made under different models of epigenetic control, and examine the consequences on epigenetic selection models of major genes and non-additive gene effects. Finally, new experimental designs will be provided for estimating intrinsic and epigenetic effects during development.