quantitative genetic basis of sex ratio variation in Nasonia vitripennis: a QTL study

Our understanding of how natural selection should shape sex allocation is perhaps more developed than for any other trait. However, this understanding is not matched by our knowledge of the genetic basis of sex allocation. Here, we examine the genetic basis of sex ratio variation in the parasitoid w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of evolutionary biology 2011, Vol.24 (1), p.12-22
Main Authors: PANNEBAKKER, B.A, WATT, R, KNOTT, S.A, WEST, S.A, SHUKER, D.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
brood size
Chromosomes
Chromosomes, Insect
clutch size
Clutch Size - genetics
Competition
Evolutionary biology
Female
genes
Genetics
Indexing in process
linkage map
local mate competition
Male
Nasonia
Nasonia vitripennis
natural selection
oviposition
parasitic wasps
parasitoid wasp
Phenotype
Quantitative Trait Loci
Ratios
Research Papers
sex allocation
Sex Ratio
Wasps - genetics
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Summary:Our understanding of how natural selection should shape sex allocation is perhaps more developed than for any other trait. However, this understanding is not matched by our knowledge of the genetic basis of sex allocation. Here, we examine the genetic basis of sex ratio variation in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis, a species well known for its response to local mate competition (LMC). We identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for sex ratio on chromosome 2 and three weaker QTL on chromosomes 3 and 5. We tested predictions that genes associated with sex ratio should be pleiotropic for other traits by seeing if sex ratio QTL co‐occurred with clutch size QTL. We found one clutch size QTL on chromosome 1, and six weaker QTL across chromosomes 2, 3 and 5, with some overlap to regions associated with sex ratio. The results suggest rather limited scope for pleiotropy between these traits.
ISSN:1010-061X
1420-9101
DOI:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02129.x