An introduction to genetic quality in the context of sexual selection

Pitcher, Trevor E.; Mays, Herman L.

doi:10.1007/s10709-008-9279-1

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The evolutionary significance of mate choice for indirect genetic benefits is a much debated topic (e.g. Pitcher & Mays 2008; Puurtinen et al. 2009; Roberts 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The evolutionary significance of mate choice for indirect genetic benefits is a much debated topic (e.g. Pitcher & Mays 2008;Puurtinen et al 2009;Roberts 2009). It has been suggested that if mating is usually non-random and if it usually takes indirect genetic benefits into account, enforced random mating (as, for example, in hatcheries) would negatively affect the average genetic quality of future generations Wedekind 2002a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of different mating scenarios on embryo viability in brown trout

et al. 2010

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Mating with attractive or dominant males is often predicted to offer indirect genetic benefits to females, but it is still largely unclear how important such non-random mating can be with regard to embryo viability. We sampled a natural population of adult migratory brown trout (Salmo trutta), bred them in vitro in a half-sib breeding design to separate genetic from maternal environmental effects, raised 2098 embryos singly until hatching, and exposed them experimentally to different levels of pathogen stress at a late embryonic stage. We found that the embryos' tolerance to the induced pathogen stress was linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of their parents, i.e. certain MHC genotypes appeared to provide better protection against infection than others. We also found significant additive genetic variance for stress tolerance. Melanin-based dark skin patterns revealed males with 'good genes', i.e. embryos fathered by dark coloured males had a high tolerance to infection. Mating with large and dominant males would, however, not improve embryo viability when compared to random mating. We used simulations to provide estimates of how mate choice based on MHC or melanin-based skin patterns would influence embryos' tolerance to the experimentally induced pathogen stress.

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“…The evolutionary significance of mate choice for indirect genetic benefits is a much debated topic (e.g. Pitcher & Mays 2008; Puurtinen et al. 2009; Roberts 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of different mating scenarios on embryo viability in brown trout

et al. 2010

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“…There has been a recent surge in interest among evolutionary biologists in elucidating the genetic determinants of phenotypic quality [1,2]. This has been driven in part by researchers working in the field of sexual selection, who have sought to address whether females might acquire indirect genetic benefits for their offspring by mating with males of particular genotypes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complex Genotype by Environment interactions and changing genetic architectures across thermal environments in the Australian field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus

2011

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BackgroundBiologists studying adaptation under sexual selection have spent considerable effort assessing the relative importance of two groups of models, which hinge on the idea that females gain indirect benefits via mate discrimination. These are the good genes and genetic compatibility models. Quantitative genetic studies have advanced our understanding of these models by enabling assessment of whether the genetic architectures underlying focal phenotypes are congruent with either model. In this context, good genes models require underlying additive genetic variance, while compatibility models require non-additive variance. Currently, we know very little about how the expression of genotypes comprised of distinct parental haplotypes, or how levels and types of genetic variance underlying key phenotypes, change across environments. Such knowledge is important, however, because genotype-environment interactions can have major implications on the potential for evolutionary responses to selection.ResultsWe used a full diallel breeding design to screen for complex genotype-environment interactions, and genetic architectures underlying key morphological traits, across two thermal environments (the lab standard 27°C, and the cooler 23°C) in the Australian field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus. In males, complex three-way interactions between sire and dam parental haplotypes and the rearing environment accounted for up to 23 per cent of the scaled phenotypic variance in the traits we measured (body mass, pronotum width and testes mass), and each trait harboured significant additive genetic variance in the standard temperature (27°C) only. In females, these three-way interactions were less important, with interactions between the paternal haplotype and rearing environment accounting for about ten per cent of the phenotypic variance (in body mass, pronotum width and ovary mass). Of the female traits measured, only ovary mass for crickets reared at the cooler temperature (23°C), exhibited significant levels of additive genetic variance.ConclusionsOur results show that the genetics underlying phenotypic expression can be complex, context-dependent and different in each of the sexes. We discuss the implications of these results, particularly in terms of the evolutionary processes that hinge on good and compatible genes models.

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An introduction to genetic quality in the context of sexual selection

Cited by 2 publications

References 31 publications

Effects of different mating scenarios on embryo viability in brown trout

Effects of different mating scenarios on embryo viability in brown trout

Complex Genotype by Environment interactions and changing genetic architectures across thermal environments in the Australian field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus

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