Mutation-selection balance and mixed mating with asexual reproduction. 2012

Tara N Marriage, and Maria E Orive
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.

The effects of asexual reproduction on both the number of deleterious mutations per gamete and the mean fitness under mutation-selection balance are investigated. We use two simulation models, considering both finite and infinite populations. The two models incorporate asexual reproduction with varying levels of outcrossing and selfing, degrees of dominance and selection coefficients. The values for mean fitness and number of deleterious mutations per gamete are compared within and among finite and infinite populations to identify the effect of asexual reproduction on levels of load, and how asexual reproduction may interact with genetic drift (population size). Increasing asexual reproduction resulted in an increase in mean fitness and a decrease in the average number of deleterious mutations per gamete for both nearly recessive and additive alleles in both the infinite and finite simulations. Increased mean fitness with increasing asexuality is possibly due to two interacting forces: a greater opportunity for selection to act on heterozygous versus homozygous mutations and the shielding of a proportion of the population from meiotic mutations due to asexual reproduction. The results found here highlight the need to consider asexual reproduction along with mixed mating in models of genetic load and mutation-selection balance.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009154 Mutation Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations. Mutations
D012100 Reproduction, Asexual Reproduction without fusion of two types of cells, mostly found in ALGAE; FUNGI; and PLANTS. Asexual reproduction occurs in several ways, such as budding, fission, or splitting from "parent" cells. Only few groups of ANIMALS reproduce asexually or unisexually (PARTHENOGENESIS). Asexual Reproduction,Asexual Reproductions,Reproductions, Asexual
D003198 Computer Simulation Computer-based representation of physical systems and phenomena such as chemical processes. Computational Modeling,Computational Modelling,Computer Models,In silico Modeling,In silico Models,In silico Simulation,Models, Computer,Computerized Models,Computer Model,Computer Simulations,Computerized Model,In silico Model,Model, Computer,Model, Computerized,Model, In silico,Modeling, Computational,Modeling, In silico,Modelling, Computational,Simulation, Computer,Simulation, In silico,Simulations, Computer
D003433 Crosses, Genetic Deliberate breeding of two different individuals that results in offspring that carry part of the genetic material of each parent. The parent organisms must be genetically compatible and may be from different varieties or closely related species. Cross, Genetic,Genetic Cross,Genetic Crosses
D012641 Selection, Genetic Differential and non-random reproduction of different genotypes, operating to alter the gene frequencies within a population. Natural Selection,Genetic Selection,Selection, Natural
D055993 Germ Cells, Plant The reproductive cells of plants. Gametes, Plant,Gametophytes,Generative Cells, Plant,Plant Gametes,Plant Germ Cells,Cell, Plant Generative,Cell, Plant Germ,Cells, Plant Generative,Cells, Plant Germ,Gamete, Plant,Gametophyte,Generative Cell, Plant,Germ Cell, Plant,Plant Gamete,Plant Generative Cell,Plant Generative Cells,Plant Germ Cell
D056084 Genetic Fitness The capability of an organism to survive and reproduce. The phenotypic expression of the genotype in a particular environment determines how genetically fit an organism will be. Darwinian Fitness,Reproductive Fitness,Fitness, Darwinian,Fitness, Genetic,Fitness, Reproductive
D032241 Mimulus A plant genus of the family Phrymaceae. Members contain 6-geranylflavanones and mimulone. Monkeyflower,Monkeyflowers

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