Epistasis for head morphology in Drosophila melanogaster


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ÖZSOY E. D., YILMAZ M., Patlar B., EMECEN G., Durmaz E., Magwire M. M., ...More

G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS, vol.11, no.10, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 11 Issue: 10
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab285
  • Journal Name: G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel, genome-wide association analyses, modifier loci, genetic interaction network, QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI, ODOR-GUIDED BEHAVIOR, GENETIC ARCHITECTURE, NATURAL VARIATION, OLFACTORY BEHAVIOR, EVOLUTION, ULTRABITHORAX, CONTRIBUTES
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Epistasis-gene-gene interaction-is common for mutations with large phenotypic effects in humans and model organisms. Epistasis impacts quantitative genetic models of speciation, response to natural and artificial selection, genetic mapping, and personalized medicine. However, the existence and magnitude of epistasis between alleles with small quantitative phenotypic effects are controversial and difficult to assess. Here, we use the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel of sequenced inbred lines to evaluate the magnitude of naturally occurring epistasis modifying the effects of mutations in jing and inv, two transcription factors that have subtle quantitative effects on head morphology as homozygotes. We find significant epistasis for both mutations and performed single marker genomewide association analyses to map candidate modifier variants and loci affecting head morphology. A subset of these loci was significantly enriched for a known genetic interaction network, and mutations of the candidate epistatic modifier loci also affect head morphology.