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种群遗传变异的原因以及由于自然选择而发生变化的变化的理论研究。 遗传变异在许多不同的水平上进行测量，从最低水平的DNA到生物体的总体形态最高。 在这些级别中，每个级别都有大量的遗传变异，尽管负责这种变异的力仍然是一个谜。 提出的研究的目的是研究自然选择，突变和遗传漂移可能在维持自然种群遗传变异方面起作用的相对作用。 这项研究所独有的是希望，将出现一个综合理论，可以在单个理论的背景下进行各个层次的变化，而不是当前状态，在当前状态下，将不同的理论用于每个级别的变化。 进化不仅保持差异，而且还改变了人群的遗传状态。 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与我们对遗传学和维持变异力量的理解相兼容的形态学变化。 拟议的研究不仅将提供对自然种群进化的遗传基础的见解，而且还可能有助于了解人类面临的一些问题。 人类与其他生物体共享具有个体之间具有极大遗传变异的特性。 毫无疑问，这种变异是在疾病易感性等重要属性中观察到的某些差异的根源。 然而，我们对人类种群的变化案例却与自然种群的差异一样。 从这项研究中获得的见解将有望更好地了解遗传变异在人类状况中的作用。