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Related Experiment Video

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Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping

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F(ST) and Q(ST) under neutrality.

Judith R Miller¹, Bryan P Wood, Matthew B Hamilton

¹Department of Mathematics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA. jrm32@georgetown.edu

|September 11, 2008

Summary

The common test comparing Q(ST) and F(ST) for natural selection may be unreliable. Evolutionary variance means Q(ST) often exceeds F(ST) under neutrality, potentially misidentifying selection.

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Population Genetics
Quantitative Genetics

Background:

The ratio of quantitative trait divergence (Q(ST)) to neutral genetic divergence (F(ST)) is used to detect natural selection.
Previous studies suggested Q(ST) = F(ST) under neutrality, forming the basis for selection tests.
The impact of evolutionary variance on Q(ST) and F(ST) comparisons has not been fully explored.

Purpose of the Study:

To analytically and computationally investigate the evolutionary variance of Q(ST) and F(ST) for neutral quantitative traits.
To determine if mean Q(ST) equals F(ST) under neutrality across different population structures and histories.
To assess the reliability of the Q(ST) = F(ST) null hypothesis test for identifying selection.

Main Methods:

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Developed analytical models for two population divergence scenarios: recent subdivision and long-term allopatry.

Employed finite-island model simulations to study evolutionary variance.

Analyzed neutral quantitative traits controlled by unlinked diallelic loci with additive gene action.

Main Results:

Mean Q(ST) is not necessarily equal to F(ST) for neutral additive quantitative traits across evolutionary replicates.
Evolutionary variance of Q(ST) is significantly larger than that of F(ST), leading to a positive correlation between Q(ST) and Q(ST) - F(ST).
Biased trait sampling towards those with higher Q(ST) values can inflate the Q(ST) - F(ST) difference.

Conclusions:

The null expectation of Q(ST) = F(ST) under neutrality is not universally true and depends on species-specific factors.
The Q(ST) vs. F(ST) test for selection may yield false positives due to inherent evolutionary variance and sampling biases.
Researchers should exercise caution when interpreting Q(ST) ≠ F(ST) results, considering population history and trait selection criteria.