Using inbreeding to test the contribution of non-additive genetic effects to additive genetic variance: a case study inDrosophila serrata

Abstract

AbstractAdditive genetic variance,VA, is the key parameter for predicting adaptive and neutral phenotypic evolution. Changes in demography (e.g., increased close-relative inbreeding) can alterVA, but how depends on the, typically unknown, gene action and allele frequencies across many loci. For example,VAincreases proportionally with the inbreeding coefficient when allelic effects are additive, but larger (or smaller) increases can occur when allele frequencies are unequal at causal loci with dominance effects. Here, we describe an experimental approach to assess the potential for rare, recessive alleles to inflateVAunder inbreeding. Applying a powerful paired pedigree design inDrosophila serrata, we measured 11 wing traits on half-sibling families bred via either random or sibling mating, differing only in homozygosity (not allele frequency). Despite close inbreeding and substantial power to detect smallVA, we detected no deviation from the expected additive effect of inbreeding on genetic (co)variances. Our results suggest the average dominance coefficient is very small relative to the additive effect, or that allele frequencies are relatively equal at loci affecting wing traits. We outline the further opportunities for this paired pedigree approach to reveal the characteristics ofVA, providing insight into historical selection and future evolutionary potential.