A complex multi-locus, multi-allelic genetic architecture underlying the long-term selection-response in the Virginia body weight line of chickens

摘要: The ability of a population to adapt changes in their living conditions, whether nature or captivity, often depends on polymorphisms multiple genes across the genome. In-depth studies such polygenic adaptations are difficult natural populations, but can be approached using resources provided by artificial selection experiments. Here, we dissect genetic mechanisms involved long-term responses Virginia chicken lines, populations that after 40 generations divergent for 56-day body weight display nine-fold difference selected trait. In F15 generation an intercross between 20 loci explained more than 60% additive variance We focused particularly seven major QTL and found only two fine-mapped single, bi-allelic loci; other five contained linked loci, alleles were epistatic. This detailed dissection lines provides deeper understanding genome-wide responses. results illustrate responses, even from with limited diversity, influenced range mechanisms.