Directional selection can drive the evolution of modularity in complex traits

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 112; no. 2; pp. 470 - 475
• Main Authors: Melo, Diogo, Marroig, Gabriel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 13.01.2015; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Biology; Computer Simulation; divergent evolution; environmental factors; Evolution; Evolution, Molecular; Genetic diversity; Genetic Drift; Genetic Variation; Genetics; Genetics, Population; Models, Genetic; Mutation; natural selection; population; Population Density; Quantitative genetics; Quantitative Trait, Heritable; selection response; Selection, Genetic; Simulation; quantitative genetics; variational modularity; phenotypic correlations; pleiotropy; G-matrix

Modularity is a central concept in modern biology, providing a powerful framework for the study of living organisms on many organizational levels. Two central and related questions can be posed in regard to modularity: How does modularity appear in the first place, and what forces are responsible fo...