Department of Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2014 Jul;1320:35-57. doi: 10.1111/nyas.12397. Epub 2014 Apr 1.
A considerable challenge in evolutionary genetics is to understand the genetic mechanisms that facilitate or impede evolutionary adaptation in natural populations. For this, we must understand the genetic loci contributing to trait variation and the selective forces acting on them. The decreased costs and increased feasibility of obtaining genotypic data on a large number of individuals have greatly facilitated gene mapping in natural populations, particularly because organisms whose genetics have been historically difficult to study are now within reach. Here we review the methods available to evolutionary ecologists interested in dissecting the genetic basis of traits in natural populations. Our focus lies on standing genetic variation in outbred populations. We present an overview of the current state of research in the field, covering studies on both plants and animals. We also draw attention to particular challenges associated with the discovery of quantitative trait loci and discuss parallels to studies on crops, livestock, and humans. Finally, we point to some likely future developments in genetic mapping studies.
进化遗传学的一个重大挑战是理解促进或阻碍自然种群中进化适应的遗传机制。为此，我们必须了解导致性状变异的遗传基因座以及对其起作用的选择压力。获得大量个体基因型数据的成本降低和可行性提高，极大地促进了自然种群中的基因定位，特别是因为那些在历史上难以研究其遗传学的生物现在已经触手可及。在这里，我们回顾了对进化生态学家在自然种群中剖析性状遗传基础感兴趣的可用方法。我们的重点是在外群体中存在的遗传变异。我们概述了该领域的研究现状，涵盖了植物和动物的研究。我们还提请注意与发现数量性状基因座相关的特殊挑战，并讨论了与作物、牲畜和人类研究的相似之处。最后，我们指出遗传图谱研究中一些可能的未来发展方向。
