Theoretical models of selection and mutation on quantitative traits

London

2005

S. 1411-1425

Bandaufführung

9886S

133916

Empirical studies of quantitative genetic variation have revealed robust patterns that are observed both across traits and across species. However, these patterns have no compelling explanation, and some of the observations even appear to be mutually incompatible. We review and extend a major class of theoretical models, Ęmutationşselection modelsę, that have been proposed to explain quantitative genetic variation. We also briefly review an alternative class of Ębalancing selection modelsę. We consider to what extent the models are compatible with the general observations, and argue that a key issue is understanding and modelling pleiotropy. We discuss some of the thorny issues that arise when formulating models that describe many traits simultaneously.