Additive Genetic Variance for Complex Traits
Author Information
Author(s): William G. Hill, Michael E. Goddard, Peter M. Visscher
Hypothesis
Is most genetic variance for complex traits additive rather than non-additive?
Conclusion
Most genetic variance for complex traits is additive, often accounting for over half and sometimes close to 100% of the total genetic variance.
Supporting Evidence
- Additive variance typically accounts for over half of the total genetic variance across various traits.
- Empirical studies show that interactions at the level of genes do not significantly contribute to variance.
- High heritability estimates suggest that most genetic variance is additive.
Takeaway
When looking at traits that are influenced by many genes, most of the differences we see are because of additive effects, not interactions between genes.
Methodology
The study evaluates empirical data and theoretical models to assess the contributions of additive and non-additive genetic variance.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in estimates due to confounding factors like environmental effects and the nature of the genetic relationships studied.
Limitations
Estimates of non-additive variance components are often confounded by environmental factors and the complexity of genetic interactions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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