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HOW SIMILAR ARE GENETIC CORRELATION STRUCTURES? DATA FROM MICE AND RATS.
Luci Ann P Kohn1, William R Atchley2
1Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706.
Summary
Morphometric evolution models often assume equal genetic variance-covariance structures. This study found similar patterns within species but not between rats and mice, cautioning against this assumption for divergent taxa.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Quantitative genetics
- Comparative anatomy
Background:
- Morphometric evolution models commonly assume genetic variance-covariance structures remain constant over evolutionary time.
- This assumption is critical for understanding evolutionary trajectories and phylogenetic relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the assumption of equal genetic variance-covariance structures across evolutionary time.
- To investigate the quantitative-genetic basis of pelvic morphology in rats and mice.
Main Methods:
- Examined eight pelvic traits in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) and random-bred ICR mice (Mus musculus).
- Assessed heritability, phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlations using matrix-permutation tests.
- Analyzed similarity of covariance and correlation matrices within and between species.
Main Results:
- All traits were significantly heritable with significant phenotypic and genetic correlations within species.
- Phenotypic and genetic covariation/correlation patterns were similar within each species and between species.
- However, genetic covariance matrices showed no significant statistical association between rats and mice.
Conclusions:
- The assumption of invariant genetic variance-covariance structures across divergent taxa should be applied cautiously.
- Independent patterns of covariation arise from genetic and environmental effects within species.
- Environmental effects contribute to covariation patterns between species.
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