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Testing selection at a single locus.

In this paper some methods for testing for the presence of selection at a single locus in a single population are discussed. It is assumed that at that locus only two alleles are present, and that the allele frequencies are observed for a number of generations. Tests are derived for detecting heterozygote advantage, genic selection and more general selection. Some simulation studies illustrate the power, or lack of power, of the tests, and show the connection between on the tests and the theory of Watterson (1979, Advances in Applied Probability 11, 14-30).

Alleles↗

A single-locus quantitative genetic model incorporating DNA methylation.

We describe a single-locus quantitative genetic model that incorporates effects due to DNA methylation. Extending Fisher's decomposition of the genotypic value, we distinguish two quantities to predict an individual's phenotypic or genetic values: the "basic genetic value" and the "expressed genetic value". We show how these quantities relate to the concept of breeding value and derive their corresponding formulas, along with those for phenotypic variance and covariance between relatives. The resulting parameters are influenced by several factors, including the population distribution of DNA methylation levels, the functional relationship between methylation and phenotype, the magnitudes of genetic and methylation effects, and allele frequencies. We show that under the conditions modeled, the presence of DNA methylation does not bias estimated breeding values.

DNA Methylation↗

Genetic basis of pre-harvest sprouting tolerance using single-locus and two-locus QTL analyses in bread wheat.

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for pre-harvest sprouting tolerance (PHST) in bread wheat was conducted following single-locus and two-locus analyses, using data on a set of 110 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the International Triticeae Mapping Initiative population grown in four different environments. Single-locus analysis following composite interval mapping (CIM) resolved a total of five QTLs with one to four QTLs in each of the four individual environments. Four of these five QTLs were also detected following two-locus analysis, which resolved a total of 14 QTLs including 8 main effect QTLs (M-QTLs), 8 epistatic QTLs (E-QTLs) and 5 QTLs involved in QTL x environment (QE) or QTL x QTL x environment (QQE) interactions, some of these QTLs being common. The analysis revealed that a major fraction (76.68%) of the total phenotypic variation explained for PHST is due to M-QTLs (47.95%) and E-QTLs (28.73%), and that only a very small fraction of variation (3.24%) is due to QE and QQE interactions. Thus, more than three-quarters of the genetic variation for PHST is fixable and would contribute directly to gains under selection. Two QTLs that were detected in more than one environment and at LOD scores above the threshold values were located on 3BL and 3DL presumably in the vicinity of the dormancy gene TaVp1. Another QTL was found to be located on 3B, perhaps in close proximity to the R gene for red grain colour. However, these associations of QTLs for PHST with genes for dormancy and grain colour are only suggestive. The results obtained in the present study suggest that PHST is a complex trait controlled by large number of QTLs, some of them interacting among themselves or with the environment. These QTLs can be brought together through marker-aided selection, leading to enhanced PHST.

Chromosome Mapping↗

DNA profiles of chimeric twins, TS and MR using the single-locus-probe technique.

A pair of blood-group-chimeric twins, TS and MR and their family have been investigated with the single-locus-probe DNA technique for restriction fragment length polymorphism in five variable-numbers-of-tandem-repeat systems. An admixture of DNA from the other twin could be demonstrated in both twins, leading to a possible false-genotype determination in at least one system. Chimerism is a potential pitfall in DNA investigations with single-locus probes in forensic genetics.

Blotting, Southern↗

Charomid cloning vectors meet the pedipalpal chelae: single-locus minisatellite DNA probes for paternity assignment in the harlequin beetle-riding pseudoscorpion.

We describe the first application of the charomid-cloning method for developing single-locus minisatellite DNA probes in a terrestrial arthropod. From a genomic library of the neotropical pseudoscorpion, Cordylochernes scorpioides, we have isolated two probes with heterozygosities exceeding 95%. These probes yielded single-locus patterns after only low stringency washing and in the absence of genomic competitor DNA. Analysis of three pedigrees indicated germline stability and showed no evidence of linkage between the loci. Patterns of allelic transmission generally conformed closely to Mendelian expectations but large offspring numbers did enable detection of one example of significant bias in allele inheritance. Two test cases are presented to illustrate the clarity and power with which these probes can establish paternity: (i) a female mated to three unrelated males, and (ii) a female mated to two of her brothers. In both cases, a single probe could be used to assign the paternity of all offspring.

Animals↗

Analysis of inherited epilepsy using single locus mutations in mice.

The neurological expression of mutations at defined gene loci in isogenic mice provides a singular opportunity to investigate the developmental pathophysiology of inherited central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Analysis of the single locus mutants that are currently available shows that CNS diseases that include spontaneous seizures as symptoms can be inherited as simple recessive traits. Mutant gene dose is highly correlated with the spontaneous occurrence of seizures. Single gene defects at one of multiple chromosomal loci may give rise to similar epileptic patterns. One mutation, tottering (tg, chromosome 8, recessive) produces in young mice a focal motor seizure pattern with a somatotopic progression, and behavioral absence seizures accompanied by abnormal bursts of bilaterally synchronous, spike-wave discharges in the electrocorticogram. Spontaneous electrographic and clinical seizures of this general pattern bear close resemblance to common forms of human epilepsy. Defined alterations in restricted neuronal pathways of the mouse brain produced by single locus mutations can be used to infer general principles of inherited epileptogenesis, and may provide specific biological test systems for the development of more selective chemical antagonists of seizure activity.

Animals↗

Refutation of the general single-locus model for the etiology of schizophrenia.

All published studies on the familial incidence of schizophrenia appropriate for testing the applicability of the general single-locus two-allele model are examined under the assumption of a unitary etiology for all schizophrenia. We show that the single major locus model is inadequate to predict the incidence in four classes of relatives of schizophrenic probands (parents, siblings, monozygotic, and dizygotic cotwins). In addition, the observed proportion of affected offspring from dual matings differ significantly from the model's prediction. The lack of an overall fit between the published familial distributions and the monogenic model suggests that a single major locus is insufficient for the etiology of schizophrenia. Further efforts in examining multifactorial models, mixed models, and other transmission models may be fruitful.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Single locus complementary sex determination in Hymenoptera: an "unintelligent" design?

The haplodiploid sex determining mechanism in Hymenoptera (males are haploid, females are diploid) has played an important role in the evolution of this insect order. In Hymenoptera sex is usually determined by a single locus, heterozygotes are female and hemizygotes are male. Under inbreeding, homozygous diploid and sterile males occur which form a genetic burden for a population. We review life history and genetical traits that may overcome the disadvantages of single locus complementary sex determination (sl-CSD). Behavioural adaptations to avoid matings between relatives include active dispersal from natal patches and mating preferences for non-relatives. In non-social species, temporal and spatial segregation of male and female offspring reduces the burden of sl-CSD. In social species, diploid males are produced at the expense of workers and female reproductives. In some social species, diploid males and diploid male producing queens are killed by workers. Diploid male production may have played a role in the evolution or maintenance of polygyny (multiple queens) and polyandry (multiple mating). Some forms of thelytoky (parthenogenetic female production) increase homozygosity and are therefore incompatible with sl-CSD. We discuss a number of hypothetical adaptations to sl-CSD which should be considered in future studies of this insect order.

Journal Article↗

Efficiency of typing unaffected relatives in an affected-sib-pair linkage study with single-locus and multiple tightly linked markers.

In an affected-sib-pair study, the parents are often unavailable for typing, particularly for diseases of late onset. In many cases, however, it is possible to sample unaffected siblings. It is therefore desirable to assess the contribution of such siblings to the power of such a study. The likelihood ratio introduced by Risch and improved by Holmans was extended to incorporate data from unaffected siblings. Tests based on two likelihoods were considered: the full likelihood of the data, based on the identity-by-descent (IBD) sharing states of the entire sibship, and a pseudolikelihood based on the IBD sharing states of the affected pair only, using the unaffected siblings to infer parental genotypes. The latter approach was found to be more powerful, except when penetrance was high. Typing an unaffected sibling, or just one parent, was found to give only a small increase in power except when the PIC of the marker was low. Even then, typing an unaffected relative increased the overall number of individuals that had to be typed to achieve a given power. If there is no highly informative marker locus in the area under study, it may be possible to "build" one by combining the alleles from two or more neighboring tightly linked loci into haplotypes. Typing two loci gave a sizeable power increase over a single locus, but typing further loci gave much smaller gains. Building haplotypes will introduce phase uncertainties, with the result that such a system will yield less power than will a single locus with the same number of alleles. This power loss was small, however, and did not affect the conclusions regarding the worth of typing unaffected relatives.

Alleles↗

Semiparametric approach to match probability calculations using single locus probes.

A semiparametric approach to match probability calculations using single locus probes has been developed and compared graphically with other standard methods by a one-sample simulation. The density functions obtained using this method are closer to the real distributions than those obtained by conventional approaches. Our method does not need to establish an arbitrary match threshold, which has been a source of problems in practical applications of standard methods. Moreover, it can be adjusted to any particular conditions by setting the experimental error and correlation of each laboratory. To assess the practical performance of this method we carried out a comparison experiment using a sample of 229 individuals analysed in duplicate.

Alleles↗

Statistical studies on protein polymorphism in natural populations. I. Distribution of single locus heterozygosity.

Surveying the literature, the frequency distribution of single-locus heterozygosity among protein loci was examined in 95 vertebrate and 34 invertebrate species with the aim of testing the validity of the mutation-drift hypothesis. This distribution did not differ significantly from that expected under the mutation-drift hypothesis for any of the species examined when tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit statistic. The agreement between the observed interlocus variance of heterozygosity and its theoretical expectation was also satisfactory. There was an indication that variation in the mutation rate among loci inflates the interlocus variance of heterozygosity. The variance of heterozygosity for a homologous locus among different species was also studied. This variance generally agreed with the theoretical value very well, though in some groups of Drosophila species there was a significant discrepancy. The observed relationship between average heterozygosity and the proportion of polymorphic loci was in good agreement with the theoretical relationship. It was concluded that, with respect to the pattern of distribution of heterozygosity, the majority of data on protein polymorphisms are consistent with the mutation-drift hypothesis. After examining alternative possible explanations involving selection, it was concluded that the present data cannot be explained adequately without considering a large effect of random genetic drift, whether there is selection or not.

Animals↗

Chromosome 19 single-locus and multilocus haplotype associations with multiple sclerosis. Evidence of a new susceptibility locus in Caucasian and Chinese patients.

CONTEXT: Susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS) involves a genetically complex autoimmune component. However, except for genes in the HLA system, specific susceptibility loci are unknown or unconfirmed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate several loci spanning 3 candidate regions for a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility in 2 ethnic groups using both single-locus and haplotype analyses. The 3 regions include HLA on chromosome 6p21.3, APOE on chromosome 19ql 3.2, and MBP(myelin basic protein) on chromosome 18q23. DESIGN: Case-control association testing. SUBJECTS: A total of 120 Caucasian patients with MS and 107 unrelated control individuals from California, and 32 patients and 32 unrelated control individuals from Beijing, China. All patients with MS were diagnosed as having clinically definite disease according to published criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Chi2 Testing of loci and individual alleles and haplotypes. Haplotype frequencies were estimated with standard maximum likelihood methods. RESULTS: The HLA effect is due to the class II DR2 haplotype, DRB1*1501-DQA1*0102-DRB1*0602; contributions to MS susceptibility from additional DRB1-DQB1 alleles or other HLA region loci were not observed. Variation within the MBP locus on chromosome 18q23 showed no effect in MS. The distribution of haplotypes from 5 loci within the chromosome 19q13.2 region, including D19S178, D19S574, APOE, APOC2, and D19S219, differed between patient and control samples. D19S574 showed a significant effect (P=.015) in Caucasian patients with MS due to the increased frequency of a single allele (P=.002). The APOE variation, prominent in other neurological diseases, showed no influence on MS susceptibility, despite its location within the chromosome 19q13.2 region. Interaction effects between DR2 and chromosome 19q13.2 or MBP in MS susceptibility were not apparent. CONCLUSIONS: The significant chromosome 19q13.2 single-locus and multilocus haplotype associations with MS in Caucasian and Chinese patient samples indicate an effect from a nearby disease susceptibility locus. These initial observations are an encouraging step toward the description of non-HLA genetic susceptibility to MS.

Alleles↗

A comparative genetic analysis of the Irish greyhound population using multilocus DNA fingerprinting, canine single locus minisatellites and canine microsatellites.

Pairwise analysis of HinfI/33.6 DNA fingerprints from a total of one hundred and fifty-three Irish greyhounds of known pedigree were used to determine band-share estimates of unrelated, first-degree and second-degree relationships. Forty-eight unrelated Irish greyhounds were used to determine allele frequencies for three single-locus minisatellites, and following a preliminary screen, eight of the most polymorphic tetra-nucleotide microsatellites from a panel of 15. The results indicated that both band-share estimates by DNA fingerprinting and microsatellite allele frequencies are highly effective in resolving parentage in this greyhound population, while single-locus minisatellites showed limited polymorphism and could not be used alone for routine parentage testing in this breed. The present study also demonstrated that, to obtain optimal resolution of parentage, sample sets of known pedigree status are required to determine the band-share distribution and/or microsatellite allele frequencies.

Animals↗

Two distinct Moloney murine leukemia virus RNAs produced from a single locus dimerize at random.

Two genetically distinct retroviral RNAs can be co-packaged if the RNAs are co-expressed in virion producing cells. For Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV), co-packaged RNAs are not randomly selected from among all packaging-competent RNAs, but instead primarily associate as homodimers. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the distance between proviral templates might hinder RNA heterodimerization, thus generating the observed preferential homodimerization of co-expressed MLV RNAs. To do this, two genetically distinct RNAs were co-expressed from a single locus and the proportions of hetero- and homodimeric virion RNAs were determined. Unlike RNAs transcribed from two different templates, RNAs transcribed from a single locus dimerized at random. Additionally, in vitro transcription experiments suggested that MLV RNA dimerization can occur more efficiently for longer RNAs during transcription than post-synthesis. Together, these findings show that MLV RNA dimer-partner selection likely occurs either co-transcriptionally or within a pool of transcripts near the proviral template.

Base Sequence↗

Mapping OI-4, a gene conferring resistance to Oidium neolycopersici and originating from Lycopersicon peruvianum LA2172, requires multi-allelic, single-locus markers.

Lycopersicon peruvianum LA2172 is completely resistant to Oidium neolycopersici, the causal agent of tomato powdery mildew. Despite the large genetic distance between the cultivated tomato and L. peruvianum, fertile F1 hybrids of L. esculentum cv. Money maker x L.peruvianum LA2172 were produced, and a pseudo-F2 population was generated by mating F, half-sibs. The disease tests on the pseudo-F2 population and two BC,families showed that the resistance in LA2172 is governed by one dominant gene, designated as 01-4. In the pseudo-F2 population, distorted segregation was observed, and multi-allelic, single-locus markers were used to display different marker-allele configurations per locus. Para-meters for both distortion and linkage between genetic loci were determined by maximum likelihood estimation, and the necessity of using multi-allelic, single-locus markers was illustrated. Finally, a genetic linkage map of chromosome 6 around the 01-4 locus was constructed by using the pseudo-F2 population.

Ascomycota↗

Linkage analysis assuming a single-locus mode of inheritance for traits determined by two loci: inferring mode of inheritance and estimating penetrance.

What happens to the results of linkage analysis when one assumes that a disease results from a single genetic locus with reduced penetrance when the actual cause is two epistatically interacting loci? We wanted to (1) determine whether assuming the correct mode of inheritance at the linked locus leads to a higher lod score than assuming the incorrect mode of inheritance irrespective of penetrance assumptions and (2) determine whether it is possible to estimate the apparent penetrance due to the second, unlinked locus from the linkage data. Linkage data were simulated under three different two-locus models. Different "penetrances" were simulated by using different disease allele frequencies at the unlinked locus. Data were then analyzed assuming a single locus with reduced penetrance. The maximum lod score was maximized with respect to penetrance (LVP curves). We found that if there were enough data, assuming the correct (i.e., generating) mode of inheritance at the linked locus always led to a higher lod score than assuming the incorrect mode of inheritance no matter what the penetrance assumption. In contrast to the case where reduced penetrance is due to random factors, the estimate of the apparent penetrance (the "penetrance" due to the second locus) was biased, thus making any estimation of the gene frequency at the second locus doubtful. The ability to detect linkage was apparently not affected when the effects of the second locus were treated as random reduced penetrance. The results suggest that analyzing the data under the assumption of a single-locus model with reduced penetrance rather than a two-locus model will not substantially decrease the ability to establish linkage nor will it affect determining the mode of inheritance at the linked locus from the linkage data.

Computer Simulation↗

Inbreeding in a natural population of Euodynerus foraminatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), a solitary wasp with single-locus complementary sex determination.

The solitary wasp Euodynerus foraminatus has single-locus complementary sex determination (sl-CSD), which is normally incompatible with inbreeding because it increases the production of sterile or inviable diploid males. Previous field observations of E. foraminatus have suggested that high levels of sibling mating are present in this species. However, conclusions about inbreeding and its genetic consequences could be flawed if based solely upon behavioural observations. Through microsatellite DNA genotyping of 102 E. foraminatus females in southwest Michigan, we estimate that between 55% and 77% of the matings in this population take place between siblings, but the frequency of diploid males is lower than expected. Our data suggest that a mixture of inbreeding and outbreeding persists in E. foraminatus despite the presence of sl-CSD.

Animals↗

Single-locus gametophytic incompatibility in autotetraploids.

It is known that a single-locus gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system can persist with just two distinct alleles in an autotetraploid population, in contrast to diploid GSI systems, assuming "competitive interaction" in which heteroallelic pollen is universally compatible. The steady-state population structure of a GSI system in autotetraploids was investigated in an undivided population assuming "competitive interaction." A deterministic model was developed to predict the frequencies of genotypes with two, three, or four distinct S alleles, assuming no mutation or population subdivision. The model showed that unlike in diploid GSI systems, the limiting values of the frequencies of genotype classes do not minimize pollen wastage.

Chromosome Mapping↗