Characterization of a major X-linked quantitative trait locus influencing body weight of mice

Growth rate in mice is an archetypal quantitative trait that has long been studied genetically, physiologically, and metabolically, but its genetic basis is still poorly understood due to its complex inheritance and the influence of environment. We measured differences in 17 growth-related traits between a pair of partially congenic lines that differ for a segment of the X chromosome containing a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that we identified in a genomewide QTL scan. The QTL has a large effect on mean body weight of approximately 20% at all ages, and affects early growth rate to a greater extent than late growth rate. Feed is converted to body mass more efficiently in the high chromosome segment-bearing line than the low line. The weights of various internal organs are affected to a somewhat greater extent by the QTL than body weight. The proportional change in body length is smaller than body weight, but this may be an effect of scale. Body weight at late ages appears to allow the most efficient detection of allelic differences at the QTL, although assignment of genotypic state based on phenotype is never unambiguous.