Using a three-locus model wherein two loci regulate a third, candidatelocus, I examine physiological epistasis from the 'gene's eye view'of the regulated locus. I show that, depending upon genetic backgroundat the regulatory loci, an allele at the candidate locus can be dominant,additive, recessive, neutral, over-dominant, or under-dominant inits effects on fitness. This kind of variation in allelic effectcaused by variation in genetic background from population to population,from time to time in the same population, or sample to sample makesfinding and mapping the genes underlying a complex phenotype difficult.The rate of evolution of such genes can also be slowed, especiallyin genetically subdivided metapopulations with migration. Nevertheless,understanding how variation in genetic background causes variationin allelic effects permits the genetic architecture of such complextraits to be dissected into the interacting component genes. Whilesome backgrounds diminish allelic effects and make finding and mappinggenes difficult, other backgrounds enhance allelic effects and facilitategene mapping.
CITATION STYLE
Wade, M. J. (2001). Epistasis, complex traits, and mapping genes (pp. 59–69). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0585-2_5
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