biostudies-literatureUnknown9ten Tusscher KH<h4>Background</h4>Sexual reproduction has classically been considered as a barrier to the buildup of discrete phenotypic differentiation. This notion has been confirmed by models of sympatric speciation in which a fixed genetic architecture and a linear genotype phenotype mapping were assumed. In this paper we study the influence of a flexible genetic architecture and non-linear genotype phenotype map on differentiation under sexual reproduction.We use an individual based model in which organisms have a genome containing genes and transcription factor binding sites. Mutations involve single genes or binding sites or stretches of genome. The genome codes for a regulatory network that determines the gene expression pattern and hence the phenotype of the organism, resulting in a non-linear gBMC evolutionary biology159https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3224660biostudies-literatureThe role of genome and gene regulatory network canalization in the evolution of multi-trait polymorphisms and sympatric speciation.PMC3224660ten Tusscher KHHogeweg PfalseThe role of genome and gene regulatory network canalization in the evolution of multi-trait polymorphisms and sympatric speciation.<h4>Background</h4>Sexual reproduction has classically been considered as a barrier to the buildup of discrete phenotypic differentiation. This notion has been confirmed by models of sympatric speciation in which a fixed genetic architecture and a linear genotype phenotype mapping were assumed. In this paper we study the influence of a flexible genetic architecture and non-linear genotype phenotype map on differentiation under sexual reproduction.We use an individual based model in which organisms have a genome containing genes and transcription factor binding sites. Mutations involve single genes or binding sites or stretches of genome. The genome codes for a regulatory network that determines the gene expression pattern and hence the phenotype of the organism, resulting in a non-linear g2009-01-01T00:00:00Z2009 Jul2025-05-29T22:28:36.663Z2025-05-29T22:28:36.663ZS-EPMC32246601958913810.1186/1471-2148-9-159