Evolutionary genetics of maternal effects

Evolutionary genetics of maternal effects

Maternal genetic effects (MGEs), where genes expressed by mothers affect the phenotype of their offspring, are important sources of phenotypic diversity in a myriad of organisms. We use a single-locus model to examine how MGEs contribute patterns of heritable and nonheritable variation and influence evolutionary dynamics in randomly mating and inbreeding populations. We elucidate the influence ...

Evolutionary Genetics Theoretical Population Genetics

Evolutionary genetics studies the patterns and mechanisms of genetic changes underlying evolutionary change. Because biological diversity at all levels (including population, species, and ecosystem diversity) has a genetic basis and is a result of evolution, evolutionary genetics provides insight into the ultimate mechanisms creating biodiversity. Evolutionary genetics utilizes empirical tools ...

Evolutionary Genetics

Evolutionary Simulations of Maternal Effects in Artificial Developmental Systems

Maternal influence on offspring goes beyond strict nuclear (DNA) inheritance: inherited maternal mRNA, mitochondria, caring and nurturing are all additional sources that affect offspring development, and they can be also shaped by evolution. These additional factors are called maternal effects, and their important role in evolution is well established experimentally. This paper presents two mod...

Evolutionary behavioral genetics.

We describe the scientific enterprise at the intersection of evolutionary psychology and behavioral genetics-a field that could be termed Evolutionary Behavioral Genetics-and how modern genetic data is revolutionizing our ability to test questions in this field. We first explain how genetically informative data and designs can be used to investigate questions about the evolution of human behavi...