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Related Experiment Videos

Heterozygote advantage for fecundity.

Neil J Gemmell1, Jon Slate

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. neil.gemmell@canterbury.ac.nz

Plos One
|January 6, 2007
PubMed
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Heterozygote advantage, a mechanism maintaining genetic diversity, is demonstrated in sheep via BMP15 and GDF9 gene variants. These variants boost litter size but cause infertility in homozygous individuals, showcasing a novel, non-disease-related form of overdominance.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary genetics
  • Population genetics
  • Animal genetics

Background:

  • Heterozygote advantage (overdominance) is a key theory for maintaining genetic variation.
  • Existing examples are scarce and often linked to disease resistance.
  • Novel examples not reliant on disease are needed to validate the theory.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and validate new examples of heterozygote advantage.
  • To investigate the role of BMP15 and GDF9 gene polymorphisms in sheep fecundity.
  • To demonstrate heterozygote advantage independent of disease interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of long-term data on ovulation rates, litter size, and lambing rates in sheep.
  • Application of standard population genetic theory to calculate equilibrium frequencies.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Identification of mutations in BMP15 and GDF9 genes affecting female fecundity.

    • Main Results:

    • Five novel examples of heterozygote advantage identified in sheep.
    • Mutations in BMP15 and GDF9 genes increase ovulation rate and litter size in heterozygotes.
    • Homozygotes for these mutations exhibit infertility due to impaired oocyte development.
    • Predicted equilibrium frequencies for these alleles range from 0.11 to 0.23.

    Conclusions:

    • These findings provide compelling evidence for heterozygote advantage in BMP15 and GDF9 genes.
    • This study presents the first documented cases of heterozygote advantage not dependent on disease.
    • The identified polymorphisms represent some of the most frequent and significant examples of overdominance to date.