Allelic diversity for neutral markers retains a higher adaptive potential for quantitative traits than expected heterozygosity

摘要: The adaptive potential of a population depends on the amount additive genetic variance for quantitative traits evolutionary importance. This is direct function expected frequency heterozygotes loci which affect trait (QTL). It has been argued, but not demonstrated experimentally, that long-term response to selection more dependent QTL allelic diversity than heterozygosity. Conservation programmes, aimed at preserving this variation, usually rely neutral markers rather making decisions management. Here, we address, both through simulation analyses and experimental studies with Drosophila melanogaster, question whether better indicator high In studies, established synthetic populations either heterozygosity or was maximized using information from (simulations) unlinked (simulations experiment). were selected evaluate provided by two optimization methods. Our results show maximizing number alleles low implies higher responses their