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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 reproductive success at the suggestive QTL on chromosome 26. This implies that sexual antagonism may play a role in maintaining genetic variation at this QTL. Our findings provide candidate regions for a classic avian life-history trait that will be useful for future studies examining the molecular and cellular function of, as well as evolutionary mechanisms operating at, these loci.

SUBMITTER: Husby A

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

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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

Husby Arild A Kawakami Takeshi T Rönnegård Lars L Smeds Linnéa L Ellegren Hans H Qvarnström Anna A

Proceedings. Biological sciences 20150501 1806

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 lev ...[more]

PMID: 25833857

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Dataset Information

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

Publications

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

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