Abstract
There has been minimal theoretical exploration of the role of epigenetic variation in the response to natural selection. Using a population genetic model, I derive formulae that characterize the response of epigenetic variation to selection over multiple generations. Unlike genetic models in which mutation rates are assumed to be low relative to the strength of selection, the response to selection decays quickly due to a rapid lowering of parent-offspring epiallelic correlation. This effect is separate from the slowing response caused by a reduction in epigenetic variation. These results suggest that epigenetic variation may be less responsive to natural selection than is genetic variation, even in cases where levels of heritability appear similar.
Highlights
Epigenetic variation has been observed in many wild populations [1,2,3,4,5,6] and can be inherited across meiotic generations [7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18], its role in phenotypic heritability and adaptive evolution is unclear
Theoreticians and empiricists often hint at the potential importance of epigenetic processes in adaptation [19,20], but Holeski et al [21] note that ‘‘... no multigenerational experiments have evaluated the relative contribution of epigenetic inheritance in response to natural selection.’’ Despite this, recent results suggest that epigenetic variation can play a role in adaptation
In a review of epigenetic variation and inheritance in plants, Hirsch et al [23] share the results of a currently unpublished selection experiment using Arabidopsis thaliana, in which a selected line and its genetically identical ancestor consistently differed in phenotype and in cytosine methylation status
Summary
Epigenetic variation has been observed in many wild populations [1,2,3,4,5,6] and can be inherited across meiotic generations [7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18], its role in phenotypic heritability and adaptive evolution is unclear. No multigenerational experiments have evaluated the relative contribution of epigenetic inheritance in response to natural selection.’’ Despite this, recent results suggest that epigenetic variation can play a role in adaptation. To develop an intuitive understanding of epigenetic variation’s role in sustained adaptive evolution, I derive analytical formulae to characterize the response to selection at an epigenetic locus over multiple generations.
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