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Pleiotropic scaling of gene effects and the ‘cost of complexity’

Author

Listed:
  • Günter P. Wagner

    (Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8106, USA)

  • Jane P. Kenney-Hunt

    (Washington University, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA)

  • Mihaela Pavlicev

    (Washington University, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA)

  • Joel R. Peck

    (Center for the Study of Evolution, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex)

  • David Waxman

    (Center for the Study of Evolution, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex)

  • James M. Cheverud

    (Washington University, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA)

Abstract

Complexity no handicap As more genetic sequence data are generated, evolutionary biology questions about inheritance and phenotypes can be subjected to sophisticated analyses. Wagner et al. address a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology, the relationship between organismal complexity and the ability to evolve, by measuring the effects of pleiotropy, or multiple effects from one genetic mutation, on the skeletal characteristics of mice. Data on 102 quantitative trait loci affecting 70 skeletal traits across the mouse genome suggest that there is no 'cost of complexity' for higher organisms, because most mutations affect few traits and the size of the effects does not increase with complexity.

Suggested Citation

  • Günter P. Wagner & Jane P. Kenney-Hunt & Mihaela Pavlicev & Joel R. Peck & David Waxman & James M. Cheverud, 2008. "Pleiotropic scaling of gene effects and the ‘cost of complexity’," Nature, Nature, vol. 452(7186), pages 470-472, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:452:y:2008:i:7186:d:10.1038_nature06756
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06756
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