The evolutionary ecology of dominance-recessivity

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Theoretical ecology
• Population genetics

Background:

• Additive genetics is evolutionarily unstable when selection maintains multiple alleles.
• Dominance interactions can evolve from simple genetic architectures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the evolution of dominance-recessivity using adaptive dynamics.
• To investigate the role of ecological scenarios and mutation types in dominance evolution.

Main Methods:

• Adaptive dynamics modeling with a two-patch soft selection model.
• Analysis of evolutionary attractivity and invasibility.
• Simulating directed random walks on trait space via mutant invasions.

Main Results:

• Additive genetics is unstable, leading to evolution towards dominance-recessivity.
• Mutation rates affecting promoter affinity versus gene product influence dominance evolution.
• Evolution favors population states with maximal viability in ecological patches.

Conclusions:

• Dominance-recessivity is a likely evolutionary outcome under specific conditions.
• Ecological context and mutation properties shape the evolution of genetic interactions.
• The model provides insights into the maintenance of genetic variation and adaptation.