Genome-wide association mapping in a wild avian population identifies a link between genetic and phenotypic variation in a life-history trait.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the genetic basis of traits involved in adaptation is a major challenge in evolutionary biology but remains poorly understood. Here, we use genome-wide association mapping using a custom 50 k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in a natural population of collared flycatchers to examine the genetic basis of clutch size, an important life-history trait in many animal species. We found evidence for an association on chromosome 18 where one SNP significant at the genome-wide level explained 3.9% of the phenotypic variance. We also detected two suggestive quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 9 and 26. Fitness differences among genotypes were generally weak and not significant, although there was some indication of a sex-by-genotype interaction for lifetime reproduc

SUBMITTER: Husby A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4426624 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature