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Using phenotypic plasticity to understand the structure and evolution of the genotype-phenotype map
Luis-Miguel Chevin1, Christelle Leung2, Arnaud Le Rouzic3
1CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France. Luis-Miguel.chevin@cefe.cnrs.fr.
Genetica
|October 7, 2021
Summary
The environment can reveal how genes influence traits by studying phenotypic plasticity. This approach complements traditional genetic variation studies for a deeper genotype-phenotype understanding.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Systems biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Deciphering the genotype-phenotype map is crucial for understanding biological variation.
- Traditional methods rely on genetic variation, which has limitations like availability and mutagenesis biases.
- Phenotypic plasticity, driven by environmental changes and gene expression, offers an alternative avenue for study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential and limitations of using environmental variation as a substitute for genetic variation in mapping genotype-phenotype relationships.
- To investigate how gene regulatory networks (GRNs) can model phenotypic plasticity and its evolution.
- To bridge the gap between theoretical GRN models and empirical gene expression data.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing existing models of gene regulatory networks.
- Analyzing how environmental factors are incorporated into these models.
- Connecting theoretical GRN frameworks with empirical gene co-expression patterns.
- Relating gene expression changes to organismal phenotypic plasticity.
Main Results:
- Environmental variation can be a powerful tool to study genotype-phenotype relationships, especially when genetic variation is limited.
- Gene regulatory networks offer a mechanistic framework to understand how environmental inputs lead to phenotypic plasticity.
- Integrating theoretical models with empirical gene co-expression data can advance our understanding of the genotype-environment-phenotype map.
Conclusions:
- Studying phenotypic plasticity driven by environmental factors provides valuable insights into the genotype-phenotype map.
- Further development in linking gene regulatory network theory with empirical data is essential for deciphering complex genotype-environment-phenotype interactions.
- This approach offers a promising avenue for understanding trait development and evolution beyond traditional genetic variation studies.
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