Premium
GENETIC COVARIANCE OF FITNESS CORRELATES: WHAT GENETIC CORRELATIONS ARE MADE OF AND WHY IT MATTERS
Author(s) -
Houle David
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1991.tb04334.x
Subject(s) - biology , covariance , selection (genetic algorithm) , genetic architecture , variance (accounting) , constraint (computer aided design) , genetic variation , mutation , evolutionary biology , resource (disambiguation) , genetics , statistics , phenotype , computer science , mathematics , machine learning , gene , economics , geometry , accounting , computer network
The genetic variance‐covariance matrix, G, is determined in part by functional architecture, the pathways by which variation in genotype influences phenotype. I develop a simple architectural model for G for two traits under directional selection constrained by their dependence on a common limiting resource. I assume that genetic variance is maintained by mutation‐selection balance. The relative numbers of loci that play a role in acquiring versus allocating a limiting resource play a crucial role in determining genetic covariance. If many loci are involved in acquiring a resource, genetic covariance may be either negative or positive at equilibrium, depending on the fitness function and the input of mutational variance. The form of G does not necessarily reveal the constraint on resource acquisition inherent in the system, and therefore studies estimating G do not test for the existence of life‐history tradeoffs. Characters may evolve in patterns that are unpredictable from G. Experiments are suggested that would indicate if this model could explain observations of positive genetic covariance.