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Evolution of genetically correlated traits: Tooth size and body size in baboons
Author(s) -
Hlusko Leslea J.,
Lease Loren R.,
Mahaney Michael C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.20435
Subject(s) - biology , evolutionary biology , population , genetic variation , population size , selection (genetic algorithm) , trunk , correlation , genetic correlation , molar , phenotype , genetics , gene , ecology , mathematics , demography , paleontology , geometry , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
Within a population, only phenotypic variation that is influenced by genes will respond to selection. Genes with pleiotropic effects are known to influence numerous traits, complicating our understanding of their evolution through time. Here we use quantitative genetic analyses to identify and estimate the shared genetic effects between molar size and trunk length in a pedigreed, breeding population of baboons housed at the Southwest National Primate Research Center. While crown area has a genetic correlation with trunk length, specific linear measurements yield different results. We find that variation in molar buccolingual width and trunk length is influenced by overlapping additive genetic effects. In contrast, mesiodistal molar length appears to be genetically independent of body size. This is the first study to demonstrate a significant genetic correlation between tooth size and body size in primates. The evolutionary implications are discussed. Am J Phys Anthropol 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.