Despite a shared genetic architecture between males and females, sexual differences are widespread. The extent of this shared genetic architecture, reflected in the intersexual genetic correlation, has previously been correlated with the extent of phenotypic sexual dimorphism in shared traits. However, the magnitude of the difference in sex-specific additive genetic variances may also fuel sexu...

Advanced reproductive techniques are creating the large numbers of close relatives needed to study gene interactions. Identical triplets, a set of 26 full sisters, a family of 4215 three-quarter sisters (same sire and maternal grandsire), a family of 76,698 half sisters, and 1.6 million granddaughters of Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation now have lactation records. Similarity of closest relatives m...

Dominance has been suggested as one of the genetic mechanisms explaining heterosis. However, using traditional quantitative genetic methods it is difficult to obtain accurate estimates of dominance effects. With the availability of dense SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) panels, we now have new opportunities for the detection and use of dominance at individual loci. Thus, the aim of this stu...

The genetic basis of fitness traits has been studied widely in animals, yet the contribution of genetic variation to these traits in humans is controversial. In particular, it is difficult to disentangle genetic versus environmental effects on fertility, because of within-family correlations of sociocultural, economic, and other nongenetic factors that influence family sizes. In this study, we ...

Abstract Determination of gene effects and combining abilities is a critical stage in maize hybrid breeding. In the present study, 20 S6 lines as female and three S6 inbred lines (K18, K19 and K1264/5-1) as tester were crossed and the resulting  test cross progenies were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2008. During the growing period, several agronomi...

Non-additive genetic variation is usually ignored when genome-wide markers are used to study the genetic architecture and genomic prediction of complex traits in human, wild life, model organisms or farm animals. However, non-additive genetic effects may have an important contribution to total genetic variation of complex traits. This study presented a genomic BLUP model including additive and ...

determining general and specific combining ability of lines is necessary to use them as parents of hybrid varieties. in addition, estimates of the heritability of characters helps in selecting suitable breeding methods and predicting genetic gains of the traits. to determine general and specific combining abilities and gene effects of agronomic characters, five cms lines and four restorer lines...