On the evolution of dominance modifiers II: a non-equilibrium approach to the evolution of genetic systems

The evolution of dominance is both the simplest and best investigated example of the evolution of genetic systems. Nevertheless, there exists striking empirical material, e.g. industrial melanism, for which no satisfactory explanation could so far be provided. In this paper we take an approach to this classical problem based on a global analysis together with computer simulations. It reveals that during the evolution of dominance one has to distinguish a "nonequilibrium phase" and a "Fisherian phase". The non-equilibrium phase appears to be characterized by the fact that in general the selection intensity at the primary locus does not affect the degree of modifier selection but only the time necessary for passing through this phase. A further essential conclusion is that modifier evolution only obtains a reasonable amount of efficiency if the population reaches the Fisherian phase already with a high modifier frequency. Using these results, predictions on the population genetic prerequisites for the evolution of dominance are derived. From these we conclude that even in populations in which dominance evolution has occurred it cannot be expected that back-crosses into relics of the ancestral population lead to a breakdown of dominance within a few generations. These predictions are in accordance with empirical data on Biston betularia and Odontopera bidentata.