Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics

Derek A. Roff

ISBN 10: 041212971X / ISBN 13: 9780412129711

Published by Springer, 1997

About this Item

Verschmutzung; Leichte Verformung / umgeknickte Seiten. The impetus for this book arose from my previous work, which included a chapter on quantitative genetic theory. While that book focused on the evolution of life histories and related traits, quantitative genetic variation was a recurring theme. Much emphasis was placed on optimality theory, a successful method for analyzing life history variation. However, there are questions where optimality approaches fall short, particularly regarding genetic variation, which is crucial for further evolution. This book serves as a natural extension of the first, approaching the topic from the perspective of understanding the evolution of quantitative traits in wild populations rather than from a breeding standpoint. The subject is extensive, supported by a substantial body of research. I present the underlying assumptions and results, along with references for those interested in the mathematics involved. My focus is on what quantitative genetics reveals about evolutionary processes, concentrating on research areas most relevant to field studies.

Seller Inventory # b0ce467c-89b0-4ab7-8f36-fd9edd4774b3

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 041212971X
• ISBN 13: 9780412129711
• Binding: Softcover
• Condition: Fair

About this title

Synopsis

The impetus for this book arose out of my previous book, The Evolution of Life Histories (Roff, 1992). In that book I presented a single chapter on quanti­ tative genetic theory. However, as the book was concerned with the evolution of life histories and traits connected to this, the presence of quantitative genetic variation was an underlying theme throughout. Much of the focus was placed on optimality theory, for it is this approach that has proven to be extremely successful in the analysis of life history variation. But quantitative genetics cannot be ig­ nored, because there are some questions for which optimality approaches are inappropriate; for example, although optimality modeling can address the ques­ tion of the maintenance of phenotypic variation, it cannot say anything about genetic variation, on which further evolution clearly depends. The present book is, thus, a natural extension of the first. I have approached the problem not from the point of view of an animal or plant breeder but from that of one interested in understanding the evolution of quantitative traits in wild populations. The subject is large with a considerable body of theory: I generally present the assumptions underlying the analysis and the results, giving the relevant references for those interested in the intervening mathematics. My interest is in what quantitative genetics tells me about evolutionary processes; therefore, I have concentrated on areas of research most relevant to field studies.