The genetic architecture of maternal effects across ontogeny in the red deer.

Evolution

Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, United Kingdom.

Published: July 2020

Maternal effects, either environmental or genetic in origin, are an underappreciated source of phenotypic variance in natural populations. Maternal genetic effects have the potential to constrain or enhance the evolution of offspring traits depending on their magnitude and their genetic correlation with direct genetic effects. We estimated the maternal effect variance and its genetic component for 12 traits expressed over the life history in a pedigreed population of wild red deer (morphology, survival/longevity, breeding success). We only found support for maternal genetic effect variance in the two neonatal morphological traits: birth weight ( = 0.31) and birth leg length ( = 0.17). For these two traits, the genetic correlation between maternal and direct additive effects was not significantly different from zero, indicating no constraint to evolution from genetic architecture. In contrast, variance in maternal genetic effects enhanced the additive genetic variance available to respond to natural selection. Maternal effect variance was negligible for late-life traits. We found no evidence for sex differences in either the direct or maternal genetic architecture of offspring traits. Our results suggest that maternal genetic effect variance declines over the lifetime, but also that this additional heritable genetic variation may facilitate evolutionary responses of early-life traits.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/evo.14000DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

maternal genetic
20
genetic
14
genetic architecture
12
genetic effects
12
genetic variance
12
maternal
10
maternal effects
8
red deer
8
offspring traits
8
genetic correlation
8

Similar Publications

BACKGROUND Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a rare (1: 1 000 000) autosomal dominant congenital skeletal dysplasia characterized by widely patent calvarial sutures, clavicular hypoplasia, supernumerary teeth, and short stature. Only a minority of the cases are diagnosed early after birth. We present another case of proven CCD presenting with typical neonatal phenotype to promote awareness of this rare disorder.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Metabolic profiles of meconium in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies.

Metabolomics

January 2025

Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a common vascular pregnancy disorder affecting maternal and fetal metabolism with severe immediate and long-term consequences in mothers and infants. During pregnancy, metabolites in the maternal circulation pass through the placenta to the fetus. Meconium, a first stool of the neonate, offers a view to maternal and fetoplacental unit metabolism and could add to knowledge on the effects of PE on the fetus and newborn.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between personality traits of women with hereditary predisposition to breast/ovarian cancer and their obstetric history and cancer-preventive behaviors. A total of 357 women, participants of 'The National Program for Families With Genetic/Familial High Risk for Cancer', were included in the study. The Neo Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and a standardized original questionnaire designed for the purpose of the study were used.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Insights into proprioceptive acuity assessed with a dynamic joint position reproduction task.

J Electromyogr Kinesiol

January 2025

Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy.

This study investigated proprioceptive acuity using the conventional joint position reproduction (JPR) task and a modified version, the Dynamic JPR task (D-JPR), during Concentric and Eccentric muscle contractions. Seventeen participants were recruited and received a tactile stimulus indicating the position cue at Initial (INI), Intermediate (INT), and Final (FIN) phases of movements, during either the concentric or eccentric phases. After the movement, they replicated the position where they received the stimulus.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

tiRNA-Gln-CTG is Involved in the Regulation of Trophoblast Cell Function in Pre-eclampsia and Serves as a Potent Biomarker.

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)

January 2025

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210000 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a gestational disorder that significantly endangers maternal and fetal health. Transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are important in the progression and diagnosis of various diseases. However, their role in the development of PE is unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!