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Related Experiment Videos

Epistasis affecting litter size in mice.

A C Peripato1, R A De Brito, S R Matioli

  • 1Department of Biology/Genetics, IB, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil. peripato@pcg.wustl.edu

Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|May 20, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Genetic interactions, or epistasis, significantly influence litter size in mice, explaining nearly 49% of variation. This highlights epistasis

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Area of Science:

  • Quantitative genetics
  • Animal reproduction
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Litter size is a critical fitness trait, often exhibiting low heritability due to natural selection.
  • Low heritability does not preclude genetic variation; interactions like epistasis can contribute significantly.
  • Understanding the genetic basis of litter size is crucial for reproductive biology and animal breeding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic architecture of litter size in an F2 intercross mouse population.
  • To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing litter size.
  • To assess the role of epistasis in the phenotypic variation of litter size.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an F2 intercross population derived from SM/J and LG/J inbred mouse strains (n=166 females).

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  • Employed interval-mapping methods to detect QTL for litter size.
  • Conducted a genome-wide epistasis scan to identify interacting QTL.

    • Main Results:

    • Litter size exhibited low heritability (h2 = 12%) and repeatability (r = 33%).
    • Two major QTL on chromosomes 7 and 12 were identified, explaining 12.6% of the variance.
    • Eight epistatically interacting QTL were detected across multiple chromosomes, significantly increasing explained variance.

    Conclusions:

    • Epistasis plays a substantial role in the genetic architecture of litter size, contributing significantly to phenotypic variation.
    • The combined effects of QTL and epistasis explained nearly 49% of the total variation in litter size.
    • This study underscores the importance of considering genetic interactions for a comprehensive understanding of complex traits like litter size.