Research Project
Full description Quantitative genetics models of adaptation assume simple additive dynamics in the contributions of alleles to traits. While a useful abstraction for many traits, fitness traits are often subject to non-additive interactions between contributing loci. These interactions emerge from gene regulatory networks which control the development of organisms and the genotype-phenotype map more generally. In this project, we explore a range of evolutionary scenarios in the light of gene regulatory networks. By exploring a range of evolutionary scenarios, including adaptive walks and polygenic adaptation under different levels of linkage, we begin to understand the ramifications of genetic networks on evolutionary dynamics. Further, exploring a range of network motifs helps us understand the generality of genetic interactions on evolution, and whether certain network structures constrain adaptation under certain scenarios. Overall, the project provides insight into the complexities of the genotype-phenotype map and introduces a method to produce more realistic quantitative genetics models of adaptation.