Cryptic genetic variation

Cryptic genetic variation

What is cryptic genetic variation? Cryptic genetic variation refers to unexpressed, bottled-up genetic potential. It is not normally seen, but is expressed under abnormal conditions such as in a new environment or a different genetic background. In a sense, the measurable component of normal variation is just the tip of an iceberg of genetic possibilities that are hidden below the visible surface.

Cryptic Genetic Variation in Evolutionary Developmental Genetics

Evolutionary developmental genetics has traditionally been conducted by two groups: Molecular evolutionists who emphasize divergence between species or higher taxa, and quantitative geneticists who study variation within species. Neither approach really comes to grips with the complexities of evolutionary transitions, particularly in light of the realization from genome-wide association studies...

Cryptic genetic variation and paraphyly in ravens.

Widespread species that are morphologically uniform may be likely to harbour cryptic genetic variation. Common ravens (Corvus corax) have an extensive range covering nearly the entire Northern Hemisphere, but show little discrete phenotypic variation. We obtained tissue samples from throughout much of this range and collected mitochondrial sequence and nuclear microsatellite data. Our study rev...

Unraveling the Genetic Architecture of Cryptic Genetic Variation

Cryptic genetic variation in natural populations: a predictive framework.

Understanding how populations respond to rapid environmental change is critical both for preserving biodiversity and for human health. An increasing number of studies have shown that genetic variation that has no discernable effect under common ecological conditions can become amplified under stressful or novel conditions, suggesting that environmental change per se can provide the raw material...