Theoretical Aspects of Population and Quantitative Genetics

群体和数量遗传学的理论方面

• 批准号: 8806548
• 负责人: John Gillespie
• 金额: $ 16.6万
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1988
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1988-07-15 至 1992-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8806548&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Theoretical; Aspects; Population; Quantitative; Genetics

The proposed research is a theoretical investigation into the causes of genetic variation in natural populations and the changes that occur in this variation as a result of natural selection. Genetic variation is measured at many different levels, ranging from DNA at the lowest level to the overall morphology of the organisms at the highest. At each of these levels there is a substantial amount of genetic variation, although the forces that are responsible for this variation remain a mystery. It is the intent of the proposed research to investigate the relative roles that natural selection, mutation, and genetic drift might play in the maintenance of genetic variation in natural populations. Unique to this research is the hope that a comprehensive theory will emerge that allows the variation at all levels to be explained within the context of a single theory, rather than the current state where a different theory is used for each level of variation. Evolution not only maintains variation, but it also changes the genetic state of a population. The most familiar expression of this is the changes in morphology seen in the fossil record. A second goal of this research is to provide a theory to explain these changes in morphology that is compatible with our understanding of genetics and the forces that maintain variation. The proposed research will not only provide insights into the genetic bases of evolution in natural populations, but may also help to understand some of the problems facing human populations. Humans share with other organisms the property of having an extraordinary amount of genetic variation between individuals. This variation is undoubtedly at the root of some of the differences that are observed between individuals in such important attributes as disease susceptibility. Yet we are as ignorant of the cases of variation in human populations as we are of the variation in natural populations. The insights gained from this research will hopefully provide a better understanding of the role of genetic variation in the human condition.

拟议的研究是对自然群体遗传变异的原因以及自然选择导致这种变异发生的变化的理论调查。 遗传变异在许多不同的水平上进行测量，从最低水平的 DNA 到最高水平的生物体整体形态。 在每个层面上都存在大量的遗传变异，尽管造成这种变异的力量仍然是个谜。 拟议研究的目的是调查自然选择、突变和遗传漂变在维持自然群体遗传变异中可能发挥的相对作用。 这项研究的独特之处在于希望出现一种全面的理论，允许在单一理论的背景下解释各个层面的变异，而不是像目前那样对每个层面的变异使用不同的理论。 进化不仅维持变异，而且还改变种群的遗传状态。 最熟悉的表达是化石记录中看到的形态变化。 这项研究的第二个目标是提供一种理论来解释这些形态学的变化，该理论与我们对遗传学和维持变异的力量的理解相一致。 拟议的研究不仅将深入了解自然种群进化的遗传基础，而且可能有助于理解人类面临的一些问题。 人类与其他生物体一样，都具有个体之间存在大量遗传变异的特性。 这种差异无疑是个体之间在疾病易感性等重要属性方面观察到的一些差异的根源。 然而，我们对人类群体变异的情况一无所知，就像我们对自然群体变异的情况一无所知一样。 这项研究获得的见解有望帮助人们更好地了解遗传变异在人类状况中的作用。