A Sexual Ornament in Chickens Is Affected by Pleiotropic Alleles at HAO1 and BMP2, Selected during Domestication

作者：Johnsson Martin^*; Gustafson Ida; Rubin Carl Johan; Sahlqvist Anna Stina; Jonsson Kenneth B; Kerje Susanne; Ekwall Olov; Kampe Olle; Andersson Leif; Jensen Per; Wright Dominic

来源：PLoS Genetics, 2012, 8(8): e1002914.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pgen.1002914

Domestication is one of the strongest forms of short-term, directional selection. Although selection is typically only exerted on one or a few target traits, domestication can lead to numerous changes in many seemingly unrelated phenotypes. It is unknown whether such correlated responses are due to pleiotropy or linkage between separate genetic architectures. Using three separate intercrosses between wild and domestic chickens, a locus affecting comb mass (a sexual ornament in the chicken) and several fitness traits (primarily medullary bone allocation and fecundity) was identified. This locus contains two tightly-linked genes, BMP2 and HAO1, which together produce the range of pleiotropic effects seen. This study demonstrates the importance of pleiotropy (or extremely close linkage) in domestication. The nature of this pleiotropy also provides insights into how this sexual ornament could be maintained in wild populations.

• 出版日期2012-8
• 单位河北医科大学