The Quantitative Genetics of Metapopulations

9615260晚安遗传模型的一个标准假设是基因对表型的影响是恒定的。然而，模型表明，在基因相互作用的存在下，这些影响不会是恒定的，相反，当其他基因座上的基因频率发生变化时，基因的影响可能会改变。因此，在一个群体中有害的基因在另一个群体中可能是有利的，而在其他基因座上有一套不同的基因。例如，在一个群体或家庭中导致“遗传病”的基因在其他群体或家庭中可能是中性的，甚至是有益的。这些模型还表明，种群规模较小的一段时期可能会改变基因的选择价值，使种群沿着新的进化轨迹前进。在极端情况下，可能会导致物种形成。这可能会对已经减少到非常小的种群数量的濒危物种产生影响。本研究将探索基因互作在种群分化和物种差异中的作用。这项研究的一部分将涉及旨在检测和解释分子数量性状基因座(QTL)研究中的基因交互作用的模型和统计分析。人们感兴趣的将是如何检测相互作用的QTL，以及如何将这些QTL与经典的数量遗传指标联系起来。这将为寻求识别受基因相互作用影响的性状的遗传基础的研究人员提供重要工具。这项研究的第二部分将研究基因相互作用在物种差异中的作用。这将为基因相互作用在物种形成中的作用提供基本的见解。

9615260 Goodnight A standard assumption of genetical models is that the effect of a gene on the phenotype is constant. Models show, however, that in the presence of gene interaction these effects will not be constant, rather, the effects of genes may change when the frequencies of genes at other loci change. Thus, a gene that is deleterious in one population may be favorable in another population with a different suite of genes at other loci. For example, a gene causing a "genetic disease" in one population or family may be neutral or even beneficial in other populations or families. These models also suggest that a period of small population size may shift the selective values of genes, sending the population down a new evolutionary trajectory. In extreme cases speciation can result. This may have implications for endangered species that have been reduced to very small population sizes. This research will explore the role of gene interaction in population differentiation and species differences. One portion of this research will involve models and statistical analysis designed to detect and interpret gene interaction in molecular quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies. Of interest will be how to detect interacting QTL, and how to relate these QTL to classical quantitative genetic measures. This will provide important tools for researchers seeking to identify the genetic basis of traits affected by gene interaction. A second portion of this research will examine the role of gene interaction in species differences. This will provide fundamental insights into the role of gene interaction in species formation.