A key question in evolutionary developmental biology is the extent to which gene

Question

A key question in evolutionary developmental biology is the extent to which genetic correlations constrain the evolution of traits. A related question is how rapidly genetic correlations can be broken. These questions are particularly important when dealing with traits that differ between males and females.

The optimal trait values differ markedly between males and females (e.g., large flowers may be favored in females but disfavored in males). Yet, genes that influence male function often substantially overlap with those that influence female function. Thus, strong genetic correlations often exist between female and male traits, and selection on female traits can produce correlated responses in male traits, and vice versa.

A team of Indiana University researchers, led by Lynda Delph, examined whether artificial selection could reduce genetic correlations between male and female flowers. Their study organism was Silene latifolia, or white campion, a dioecious plant (individuals have either male organs or female organs, but not both).

In white campion, females typically have flowers with much wider calyxes (sepals). There is a strong positive genetic correlation between male and female calyx width: The sisters of males that have flowers with a wider-than-average calyx typically have flowers with a wider-than-average calyx.

Delph and colleagues used artificial selection to manipulate the correlation between male collected data on male and female flower sizes. They had two sets of three lines each: control and experimental. In the experimental lines, they used family selection, wherein they took the mean of the calyx width for male and female flowers. For these lines, they then proceeded to select based on the following diagram. In the control lines, individuals were chosen at random to start the next generation.

Question 4. What happens to the correlation of male and female traits in selection line 1 over the course of artificial selection? Does the correlation respond to selection?

Question 5. What happens to the correlation of male and female traits in selection lines 2 and 3 over the course of artificial selection? Does the correlation respond to selection?

Question 6. Describe the pattern of female- and male-trait values in generation 5 in selection line 3.

Question 7. After running the selection to alter the correlation between male and female traits, the researchers wanted to observe how the lines would respond to ordinary directional selection on female traits. Suppose there is a strong positive selection to reduce the size of female flowers, and the genetic correlation between male and female flower size is positive and close to 1. Based on this, what do you expect would happen to the male flower size?

Question 8. Suppose there is a strong positive selection to reduce the size of female flowers, and the genetic correlation between male and female flower size is close to 0. Based on this, what do you expect would happen to the male flower size?

Selection 1 Base generation C 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 Selection 2 Control 1 0.3Control 2 0.2Selection 1 0.2Selection 2 0.1Selection 3 Selection 3 Generation Figure 2 The figure above shows the response to selection on the correlation between the female and male traits. In the line graph, the correlation is on the y-axis and the time (in generations) is on the x-axis. Points marked ""are significantly less than 1 but not significantly greater than 0. Red points and lines designate the control lines, while blue points and lines designate the experimental lines. The point marked F" is significantly less than 1 and significantly greater than 0. All other points are not significantly less than 1. The inserts show the raw data for specific lines, with female- trait family means on the x-axis and male-trait family means on the y-axis

Explanation / Answer

Ans-4 in this selection line they are becoming correlated with the increase in time with respond to artificial selection.

Ans-5 in selection line 2 and 3 the correlation starts to decrease in starting, the curve goes down and then it tend to increase in the end. So there is slight decrease in starting and then slight increase.

Ans-6 here in selection three there is a parabola curve and the value is less than 1 and greater than zero.

Ans-7 if there will be correlation then the male flower size will increase.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.