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Partitioning of variance and estimation of genetic parameters for various bristle number characters ofDrosophila melanogaster

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Summary

Phenotypic variance for each of several bristle number characters (abdominal, sternopleural, second and third coxal) was partitioned using both hierarchal and dialled designs. Heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated from parent-offspring regressions and correlations and half-sib correlations.

A high proportion of the genetic variance for abdominal bristle number was due to epistatic and sex-linked gene action, but most of the genetic variance for the other characters was additive autosomal.

The genetic correlations among sternopleural, and second and third coxal bristle numbers were all high, but that between abdominals and sternopleurals was low, while those between abdominals and either second or third coxals were virtually zero. An appreciable proportion of the covariance between abdominal and sternopleural bristle numbers was non-additive genetic.

The diallel method gave more reliable estimates of genetic parameters when non-additive or sex-linked genetic variation was present.

Zusammenfassung

Für eine Anzahl verschiedener Borstenzahl-Charaktere (abdominales, sternopleurales, 2. und 3. coxales Segment) wurde die phänotypische Varianz unter Verwendung hierarchischer und dialleler Versuchsanlagen unterteilt. Anhand von Elter-Nachkommen-Regressionen und-Korrelationen und von Halbgeschwister-Korrelationen wurden Heritabilitäten und genetische Korrelation geschätzt.

Ein hoher Anteil der genetischen Varianz für die Zahl abdominaler Borsten wurde durch epistatische Effekte und die Wirkung geschlechtsgekoppelter Gene bedingt. Bei den anderen Charakteren war der größte Anteil der genetischen Varianz additiv autosomal.

Die genetische Korrelation zwischen der Zahl der Borsten sternopleural und 2. und 3. Segment coxal war durchweg hoch, zwischen abdominal und sternopleural niedrig und zwischen abdominal und sowohl 2. und 3. coxal praktisch gleich null.

Ein bemerkenswerter Anteil der Covarianz zwischen der Zahl abdominaler und sternopleuraler Borsten war nicht-additiv genetisch.

Die Diallel-Methode ergab zuverlässigere Schätzungen der genetischen Parameter, wenn nicht-additive oder geschlechtsgebundene genetische Variation vorlag.

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Author notes

  1. A. K. Sheridan

    Present address: Poultry Research Station, Seven Hills, N.S.W., Australia

  2. R. Frankham

    Present address: Canada Department of Agriculture Research Station, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada

  3. L. P. Jones

    Present address: Department of Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Sydney, Sydney

    A. K. Sheridan, R. Frankham, L. P. Jones, K. A. Rathie & J. S. F. Barker

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  1. A. K. Sheridan
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  2. R. Frankham
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  3. L. P. Jones
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  4. K. A. Rathie
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  5. J. S. F. Barker
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Sheridan, A.K., Frankham, R., Jones, L.P. et al. Partitioning of variance and estimation of genetic parameters for various bristle number characters ofDrosophila melanogaster . Theoret. Appl. Genetics 38, 179–187 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00935264

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