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Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
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Hormonal pleiotropy structures genetic covariance.

Tyler N Wittman1, Christopher D Robinson1, Joel W McGlothlin2

  • 1Department of Biology University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia 22904.

Evolution Letters
|August 9, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hormonal pleiotropy structures genetic covariance, influencing sexual dimorphism. Testosterone in female lizards altered genetic architecture, making it similar to males and affecting evolutionary potential.

Keywords:
Animal modelAnolisB matrixG matrixgenetic correlationintralocus sexual conflictquantitative geneticssexual dimorphismtestosterone

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Quantitative genetics
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Phenotypic evolution is shaped by the genetic variance-covariance matrix (G).
  • Sexual dimorphism evolution is influenced by the between-sex genetic variance-covariance matrix (B).
  • The biological mechanisms structuring G and B matrices are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To experimentally test if hormonal pleiotropy structures the G and B matrices.
  • To investigate the role of testosterone in shaping the genetic architecture of sexually dimorphic traits.

Main Methods:

  • Used a paternal half-sibling design in juvenile brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei).
  • Administered slow-release testosterone implants to experimental females and control implants to siblings.
  • Quantified effects on genetic architecture of body size and dewlap characteristics (area, hue, saturation, brightness).

Main Results:

  • Testosterone masculinized females, increasing body size and dewlap area, hue, and saturation, while decreasing brightness.
  • Testosterone treatment made the genetic variance-covariance matrix (G) of females statistically indistinguishable from males.
  • Testosterone increased between-sex genetic correlations (B) and reduced the evolutionary permissiveness of the full G matrix.

Conclusions:

  • Hormonal pleiotropy, specifically testosterone, significantly structures genetic covariance.
  • Natural sex differences in testosterone likely decouple genetic variance between sexes, influencing sexual dimorphism.
  • Hormones play a crucial, underappreciated role in mediating evolutionary responses to selection.