Number of genes controlling a quantitative trait in a hybrid zone of the aposematic frog Ranitomeya imitator.

ABSTRACT: The number of genes controlling mimetic traits has been a topic of much research and discussion. In this paper, we examine a mimetic, dendrobatid frog Ranitomeya imitator, which harbours extensive phenotypic variation with multiple mimetic morphs, not unlike the celebrated Heliconius system. However, the genetic basis for this polymorphism is unknown, and not easy to determine using standard experimental approaches, for this hard-to-breed species. To circumvent this problem, we first develop a new protocol for automatic quantification of complex colour pattern phenotypes from images. Using this method, which has the potential to be applied in many other systems, we define a phenotype associated with differences in colour pattern between different mimetic morphs. We then proceed to develop

SUBMITTER: Vestergaard JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4424634 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature