Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity and canalization are important
topics in quantitative genetics and evolution. Both concepts are related to
environmental sensitivity. The latter can be modeled using a model with
genetically structured environmental variance. This work reports the results of
a genetic analysis of adult weight in the snail Helix aspersa. Several models of
heterogeneous variance are fitted using a Bayesin, MCMC approach. Exploratory
analyses using posterior predictive model checking and model comparisons based
on the deviance information criterion favor a model postulating a genetically
structured heterogeneous environmental variance. Our analysis provides a strong
indication of a positive genetic correlation between additive genetic values
affecting the mean and those affecting environmental variation of adult body
weight. The possibility of manipulating environmental variance by selection is
illustrated numerically using estimates of parameters derived from the snail
data set.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Genetics |
| Volume | 168 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Pages (from-to) | 2089-2097 |
| ISSN | 0016-6731 |
| Publication status | Published - 2004 |