Indirect genetic effects increase the heritable variation available to selection and are largest for behaviors: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: The evolutionary potential of traits is governed by the amount of heritable variation available to selection. While this is typically quantified based on genetic variation in a focal individual for its own traits (direct genetic effects, DGEs), when social interactions occur, genetic variation in interacting partners can influence a focal individual's traits (indirect genetic effects, IGEs). Theory and studies on domesticated species have suggested IGEs can greatly impact evolutionary trajectories, but whether this is true more broadly remains unclear. Here, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the amount of trait variance explained by IGEs and the contribution of IGEs to predictions of adaptive potential. We identified 180 effect sizes from 47 studies across 21 spe

SUBMITTER: Santostefano F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11790215 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature