Phenotypic and evolutionary consequences of social behaviours: interactions among individuals affect direct genetic effects.

ABSTRACT: Traditional quantitative genetics assumes that an individual's phenotype is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. For many animals, part of the environment is social and provided by parents and other interacting partners. When expression of genes in social partners affects trait expression in a focal individual, indirect genetic effects occur. In this study, we explore the effects of indirect genetic effects on the magnitude and range of phenotypic values in a focal individual in a multi-member model analyzing three possible classes of interactions between individuals. We show that social interactions may not only cause indirect genetic effects but can also modify direct genetic effects. Furthermore, we demonstrate that both direct and indirect genetic effects substantially

SUBMITTER: Trubenova B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3511512 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature