杂合子长期变化的计算机模拟试验——群体中长期保存杂合子的可能性分析

本文运用计算机模拟的方法,在随机交配、随机留种的情况下,分析了群体中长期保存杂合子的可能性。从模拟试验结果验证了群体遗传学理论的一个重要结论:群体中长期保存杂合子是不可能的。因此在畜禽保种工作中以减少基因纯合而保存群体全部基因为目的,来控制近交是不一定必要的。     

近交对单倍体-二倍体种群平衡遗传多态性的影响

本文通过对一个双等位基因位点在产雄孤雌生殖遗传体系下不完全同胞交配的模拟 ,研究了在显性、共显性和超显性遗传模式下近交对平衡多态性的影响。结果显示 :相对于二倍体 -二倍体种群 ,不完全同胞交配会减少产雄孤雌生殖种群的遗传变异。然而 ,在各种情况下 ,近交对单倍体 -二倍体种群的总体影响不如对二倍体 -二倍体种群极端     

红脂大小蠹基于近交避免行为的雄性配偶选择研究

为研究红脂大小蠹Dendroctonus valens雄性在配偶选择时是否存在近交避免行为,以及这种选择行为是否是基于化学信息,设计了3个实验,分别验证雄性对近缘和远缘雌性基于化学信息的配偶选择,近缘或远缘雌性存在下雄性的交配动机,以及基于化学信息的亲属识别机制及对雄性交配的影响。结果显示,在亲缘关系不同的2雌性选择实验中,雄性更愿意与远缘雌性交配;雄性在近缘雌性粪屑存在下,交配成功率显著降低。研究表明雄性红脂大小蠹对不同亲缘关系的雌性有显著不同的交配期望。雄性对亲缘关系近的同家庭雌性有明显的近交避免行为,由此避免近交衰退。本研究同时显示雄性红脂大小蠹亲属识别的机制是基于雌性个体的化学信息。     

家畜近亲繁殖群体连锁不平衡的分析

本文分析了家畜近亲繁殖群体连锁位点基因遗传平衡的实现,推导出了配子型频率及基因型频率通用递推公式．研究证明,近交群体不同于随机交配大群体,其连锁不平衡值d（绝对值）随世代的下降速率不仅取决于重组率,而且也依赖于近交速率．近交越剧烈,则d下降越慢;达平衡态时,近交群体d值并不一定等于0．连锁越紧密,近交越剧烈,则平衡d值越大．最后讨论了研究结果在家畜育种中的应用．     

随机交配群体中连锁对世代平均数和方差的影响及其测定

本文以黄花烟草N.rustica的两个品种V_2和V_(12)为材料,人工创造4个随机交配轮次不同的群体,对开花期(FT)和最后株高(FH)两个性状在理论上探讨了随机交配群体中连锁对世代平均数和方差的影响,并用上述材料进行验证。结果指出,在平均数和方差两种水平上都测定出连锁的存在;无论是加性方差还是显性方差,都随着交配轮次的增加而减少,这是相引连锁的表现。本文还讨论了基因连锁强度、基因联合程度对世代平均数和方差的影响。     

厦门木麻黄种群交配系统及近交衰退

木麻黄耐沙生,盐碱,是沿海优良的防护林树种,从20世纪80年代开始,木麻黄林呈现出衰退现象。采用等位酶分析技术研究木麻黄种群的交配系统及近交衰退,木麻黄种群异交率为0．622,表明为混合酱类型,与其亲缘种比较来看,引种降低了木麻黄异交率,增加了近交,采用电是接估算的近交衰退程度很高。结果表明,引种过程中的建立者效应引起的近交及其后的近交衰退确定在木麻黄林衰退中起了重要作用,根据基因型有选择地引起木麻黄以减轻衰退。     

香菇自然群体中个体间的空间分布及其遗传联系

应用体细胞不亲和性反应、交配型因子分析和基因组DNA的RAPD分析,研究了一个分布于方圆约1km的6根倒木上的18个香菇野生菌株间的遗传差异。结果表明,该群体大多数菌株间配对（80．4％）体细胞不亲和,而同一倒木菌株间配对的体细胞亲和率达62．5％。不同倒木菌株间未发现体细胞亲和的配对。该群体存在11个特异的A因子和7个特异的B因子。同一倒木的菌株有的交配型因子相同,有的则不同。不同倒木的菌株大多数交配型因子不同,未发现交配型因子完全相同的菌株。RAPD分析显示,体细胞亲和的菌株,交配型因子完全相同的菌株,在基于DNA相似系数的遗传相关聚类中,首先聚为小类。总起来看,在自然群体中,香菇个体间的遗传差异与其空间分布之间存在一定的联系,随着空间距离的增大,菌株间的异质性相应增高。     

斑玉蕈不同交配型的原生质体单核菌株差异分析

对2个斑玉蕈菌株进行了原生质体分离与交配型鉴定,并对不同交配型单核体的代谢特性进行了研究。结果表明,2个斑玉蕈菌株均出现2种交配型,2种交配型比例不一致,且2个菌株的两种单核体的分离比例均不符合1∶1分离比,交配型比例上出现明显的偏差现象。2个菌株中,不同交配型单核菌株的菌丝形态有明显差别,代谢过程中的菌丝生物量及发酵液的pH、还原糖含量和电导率均存在差异,表明在这2个菌株中不同交配型单核菌株的菌丝形态及代谢特性与交配型因子相关。     

香菇自然群体中个体间的空间分布及其遗传联系*

应用体细胞不亲和性反应、交配型因子分析和基因组ＤＮＡ的ＲＡＰＤ分析,研究了一个分布于方圆约１ｋｍ的６根倒木上的１８个香菇野生菌株间的遗传差异。结果表明,该群体大多数菌株间配对（８０．４％）体细胞不亲和,而同一倒木菌株间配对的体细胞亲和率达 ６２．５％。不同倒木菌株间未发现体细胞亲和的配对。该群体存在 １１个特异的Ａ因子和７个特异的Ｂ因子。同一倒木的菌株有的交配型因子相同,有的则不同。不同倒木的菌株大多数交配型因子不同,未发现交配型因子完全相同的菌株。ＲＡＰＤ分析显示,体细胞亲和的菌株,交配型因子完全相同的菌株,在基于ＤＮＡ相似系数的遗传相关聚类中,首先聚为小类。总起来看,在自然群体中,香菇个体间的遗传差异与其空间分布之间存在一定的联系,随着空间距离的增大,菌株间的异质性相应增高。     

泽苔草交配系统的RAPD分析

利用RAPD显性标记位点对泽苔草(Caldesia parnassifolia)湖南茶陵湖里居群进行了交配系统研究。采用10个家系共240个子代样品测定了该居群花粉库基因频率、固定指数(F)、多位点异交率(tm)和单位点异交率(ts)。结果显示该居群异交率处于较高的水平(tm=1.008),多位点异交率与单位点异交率差异不显著(tm-ts=-0.021),固定指数(F)的估计值小于0(F=-0.200),表明该居群双亲近交不明显,而以异交为主。这可能是受居群密度、传粉者的活动能力等因素影响的结果。     

No correlation between inbreeding depression and delayed selfing in the freshwater snail Physa acuta

Inbreeding depression, one of the main factors driving mating system evolution, can itself evolve as a function of the mating system (the genetic purging hypothesis). Classical models of coevolution between mating system and inbreeding depression predict negative associations between inbreeding depression and selfing rate, but more recent approaches suggest that negative correlations should usually be too weak or transient to be detected within populations. Empirical results remain unclear and restricted to plants. Here, we evaluate, for the first time, the within-population genetic correlation between inbreeding depression and a trait that controls the amount of self-fertilization (the waiting time) in a self-fertile hermaphroditic animal, the freshwater snail Physa acuta. Using a large quantitative-genetic design (36 grand-families and 348 families), we observe abundant within-population family-level genetic variation for both inbreeding depression (estimated for survival, fecundity, and size) and the degree of behavioral selfing avoidance. However, we detected no correlation between waiting time and inbreeding depression across families. In agreement with recent models, this result shows that mutational variance rather than differential purging accounts for most of the genetic variance in inbreeding depression within a population.     

Non-random mating for selection with restricted rates of inbreeding and overlapping generations

Minimum coancestry mating with a maximum of one offspring per mating pair (MC1) is compared with random mating schemes for populations with overlapping generations. Optimum contribution selection is used, whereby ΔF is restricted. For schemes with ΔF restricted to 0.25% per year, 256 animals born per year and heritability of 0.25, genetic gain increased with 18% compared with random mating. The effect of MC1 on genetic gain decreased for larger schemes and schemes with a less stringent restriction on inbreeding. Breeding schemes hardly changed when omitting the iteration on the generation interval to find an optimum distribution of parents over age-classes, which saves computer time, but inbreeding and genetic merit fluctuated more before the schemes had reached a steady-state. When bulls were progeny tested, these progeny tested bulls were selected instead of the young bulls, which led to increased generation intervals, increased selection intensity of bulls and increased genetic gain (35% compared to a scheme without progeny testing for random mating). The effect of MC1 decreased for schemes with progeny testing. MC1 mating increased genetic gain from 11–18% for overlapping and 1–4% for discrete generations, when comparing schemes with similar genetic gain and size.     

普通野生稻小种群的交配系统与遗传多样性

小种群的遗传动态是保育遗传学关注的核心问题之一,而种群遗传动态又与交配系统密切相关.普通野生稻(Oryza rufipogon Griff.)是具有重要经济价值的濒危物种,目前其种群规模都较小,研究其小种群交配系统与遗传变异性对普通野生稻的保护具有重要意义.运用7对SSR引物,对采自江西东乡普通野生稻小种群的36份种茎和其中20个家系共计601份子代进行了分析.结果显示:该种群的表观异交率为0.318,多位点法估计(MLTR)的多位点异交率为0.481;50%以上的子代共享亲本,非随机交配明显;东乡普通野生稻种群交配系统属于混合交配类型.比较亲本和子代种群的遗传变异性显示:子代种群比亲本种群遗传变异性更丰富;子代种群的杂合子不足与种群变小自交比例上升有关;而亲本种群杂合子过剩可能与杂合基因型的选择优势有关.这些结果说明创造条件扩大种群规模对普通野生稻的原生境保护显得尤为重要.     

Minimization of rate of inbreeding for small populations with overlapping generations

We propose a method that minimizes the rate of inbreeding (delta F) for small unselected populations with overlapping generations and several reproductive age classes. It minimizes the increase in coancestry of parents and optimizes the contribution of each selection candidate. The carrying capacity of the population is limited to a fixed number of animals per year. When survival rate equalled 100%, only animals from the oldest age class were selected, which maximized the number of parents per generation, slowed down the turnover of generations and minimized the increase of coancestry across sublines. However, the population became split into sublines separated by age classes, which substantially increased inbreeding within sublines. Sublines were prevented by a restriction of selecting at least one sire and one dam from the second-oldest age class, which resulted in an L times lower delta F, where L equals the average generation interval of sires and dams. Minimum coancestry mating resulted in lower levels of inbreeding than random mating, but delta F was approximately the same. For schemes where the oldest animals were selected, delta F increased by 18-52% compared with the proposed method.     

Effects of reproductive compensation, gamete discounting and reproductive assurance on mating-system diversity in hermaphrodites

Hermaphroditism allows considerable scope for contributing genes to subsequent generations through various mixtures of selfed and outcrossed offspring. The fitness consequences of different family compositions determine the evolutionarily stable mating strategy and depend on the interplay of genetic features, the nature of mating, and factors that govern offspring development. This theoretical article considers the relative contributions of these influences and their interacting effects on mating-system evolution, given a fixed genetic load within a population. Strong inbreeding depression after offspring gain independence selects for exclusive outcrossing, regardless of the intensity of predispersal inbreeding depression, unless insufficient mating limits offspring production. The extent to which selfing evolves under weak postdispersal inbreeding depression depends on predispersal inbreeding depression and the opportunity for resource limitation of offspring production. Mixed selfing and outcrossing is an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) if selfed zygotes survive poorly, but selfed offspring survive well, and maternal individuals produce enough "extra" eggs that deaths of unviable outcrossed embryos do not impact offspring production (reproductive compensation). Mixed mating can also be an ESS, despite weak lifetime inbreeding depression, if self-mating reduces the number of male gametes available for outcrossing (male-gamete discounting). Reproductive compensation and male-gamete discounting act largely independently on mating-system evolution. ESS mating systems always involve either complete fertilization or fertilization of enough eggs to induce resource competition among embryos, so although reproductive assurance is adaptive with insufficient mating, it is never an ESS. Our results illustrate the theoretical importance of different constraints on offspring production (availability of male gametes, egg production, and maternal resources) for both the course and outcome of mating-system evolution, whereas unequal competition between selfed and outcrossed embryos has limited effect. These results also underscore the significance of heterogeneity in the nature and intensity of inbreeding depression during the life cycle for the evolution of hermaphrodite mating systems.     

PROBLEMS WITH TESTING INBREEDING AVOIDANCE: THE CASE OF THE COLLARED FLYCATCHER

Four year's data on collared flycatchers, Ficedula albicollis, breeding in a nestbox plot on the island of Gotland, Sweden, was used to investigate whether individuals avoid mating with close kin (i.e., parents or sibs). Only one case of close inbreeding (0.5% of all pairs) was observed during the years of study. The observed frequency of close inbreeding was compared to expected frequencies based on two different null models. Assuming no inbreeding avoidance behaviors (e.g., dispersal or kin recognition), but taking into account the fact that mortality, and different arrival and pairing times of individuals reduce the probability of mating with close kin, the expected frequency of close inbreeding is 10% and 15% for female and male recruits (i.e., born in the study plot), respectively. However, assuming mating to be random within the study plot reduced the expected frequency of close inbreeding to 1% or less for both males and females. Consequently, conclusions drawn concerning inbreeding avoidance depend on the null model used. Contrasting estimated costs of tolerating close inbreeding with those of avoiding it (by dispersal to other plots), however, suggests that the costs of avoiding close inbreeding are substantially greater than those of tolerating it. Therefore, although inbreeding avoidance cannot be rejected as a cause of dispersal of this species, it is not the primary cause, and particularly not for sex-biased dispersal. The general problems of investigating inbreeding avoidance are discussed. It is argued that all previous null models based on random mating in finite populations produce expected frequencies of close inbreeding that in fact include inbreeding avoidance, since they implicitly assume random dispersal within a finite population. Thus, comparisons between observed and expected frequencies of close inbreeding based on random mating are inadequate. The most promising method of investigating inbreeding avoidance is to experimentally study individual movements and mating preferences in the presence and absence of close kin.     

Sib mating designs for mapping quantitative trait loci

The power to separate the variance of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) from the polygenic variance is determined by the variability of genes identical by descent (IBD) at the QTL. This variability may increase with inbreeding. Selfing, the most extreme form of inbreeding, increases the variability of the IBD value shared by siblings, and thus has a higher efficiency for QTL mapping than random mating. In self-incompatible organisms, sib mating is the closest form of inbreeding. Similar to selfing, sib mating may also increase the power of QTL detection relative to random mating. In this study, we develop an IBD-based method under sib mating designs for QTL mapping. The efficiency of sib mating is then compared with random mating. Monte Carlo simulations show that sib mating designs notably increase the power for QTL detection. When power is intermediate, the power to detect a QTL using full-sib mating is, on average, 7% higher than under random mating. In addition, the IBD-based method proposed in this paper can be used to combine data from multiple families. As a result, the estimated QTL parameters can be applied to a wide statistical inference space relating to the entire reference population. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Long‐distance pollen and seed dispersal and inbreeding depression in Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) in the Brazilian savannah

Hymenaea stigonocarpa is a neotropical tree that is economically important due to its high‐quality wood; however, because it has been exploited extensively, it is currently considered threatened. Microsatellite loci were used to investigate the pollen and seed dispersal, mating patterns, spatial genetic structure (SGS), genetic diversity, and inbreeding depression in H. stigonocarpa adults, juveniles, and open‐pollinated seeds, which were sampled from isolated trees in a pasture and trees within a forest fragment in the Brazilian savannah. We found that the species presented a mixed mating system, with population and individual variations in the outcrossing rate (0.53–1.0). The studied populations were not genetically isolated due to pollen and seed flow between the studied populations and between the populations and individuals located outside of the study area. Pollen and seed dispersal occurred over long distances (>8 km); however, the dispersal patterns were isolated by distance, with a high frequency of mating occurring between near‐neighbor trees and seeds dispersed near the parent trees. The correlated mating for individual seed trees was higher within than among fruits, indicating that fruits present a high proportion of full‐sibs. Genetic diversity and SGS were similar among the populations, but offspring showed evidence of inbreeding, mainly originating from mating among related trees, which suggests inbreeding depression between the seed and adult stages. Selfing resulted in a higher inbreeding depression than mating among relatives, as assessed through survival and height. As the populations are not genetically isolated, both are important targets for in situ conservation to maintain their genetic diversity; for ex situ conservation, seeds can be collected from at least 78 trees in both populations separated by at least 250 m.     

Genetic mating system and mate selection in smallmouth bass

Mating systems are an important factor influencing the variance in reproductive success among individuals within natural populations and thus have important ecological and evolutionary implications. We used molecular pedigree reconstruction techniques with microsatellite DNA data to characterize the genetic mating system and mate selection in adult smallmouth bass spawning in Lake Opeongo. The genetic mating system of smallmouth bass in this system can be characterized as predominantly monogamous with a low rate of polygynandry particularly among larger individuals. Iteroparous individuals showed a complete absence of interannual mate fidelity, presumably due to the low annual return rate of spawning adults. Within a season, individuals from both sexes pursued additional mating opportunities with males showing greater variance in mate number than females. Female mate selection appeared to be largely random with little evidence for elevated levels of inbreeding in this population. Multiple mating females pursued additional males to whom they were less related than the first male with which they spawned within a given season, however, this pattern varied among years. The mating pattern observed in this population would likely limit the strength of sexual selection and thus could account for the lack of sexual dimorphism and the absence of alternative reproductive tactics in this species.     

Active inbreeding in a cichlid fish and its adaptive significance

Levels of inbreeding are highly variable in natural populations. Inbreeding can be due to random factors (like population size), limited dispersal, or active mate choice for relatives. Because of inbreeding depression, mating with kin is often avoided, although sometimes intermediately related individuals are preferred (optimal outbreeding). However, theory predicts that the advantages of mating with close kin can override the effects of inbreeding depression, but in the animal kingdom, empirical evidence for this is scarce. Here we show that both sexes of Pelvicachromis taeniatus, an African cichlid with biparental brood care, prefer mating with unfamiliar close kin over nonkin, suggesting inclusive fitness advantages for inbreeding individuals. Biparental care requires synchronous behavior among parents. Since parental care is costly, there is a conflict between parents over care, which can reduce offspring fitness. Relatedness is expected to enhance cooperation among individuals. The comparison of the parental behavior of in- and outbreeding pairs showed that related parents were more cooperative and invested more than unrelated parents. Since we found no evidence for inbreeding depression, our results suggest that in P. taeniatus, inbreeding is an advantageous strategy.