Genomic-Wide QTLs Controlling Phenotypic Noise
2011

Genomic Analysis of QTLs and Genes Affecting Natural Variation in Stochastic Noise

Sample size: 392 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Jimenez-Gomez Jose M., Corwin Jason A., Joseph Bindu, Maloof Julin N., Kliebenstein Daniel J.

Primary Institution: University of California Davis

Hypothesis

How many traits display genetic control of stochastic noise and how broadly these stochastic loci are distributed within the genome?

Conclusion

The study identified QTLs controlling natural variation in stochastic noise of glucosinolates and related transcripts, suggesting that genetic polymorphism within regulatory networks alters stochastic noise independently of average levels.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study identified QTLs unique for either transcript or metabolite variation.
  • Validation of loci showed that genetic polymorphism alters stochastic noise independent of average levels.
  • The Arabidopsis transcriptome exhibits significant heritable differences in stochastic noise.

Takeaway

Scientists studied how genes affect the randomness in plant traits, finding that some genes can change how much traits vary without changing the average trait value.

Methodology

The study used quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to identify genetic loci associated with stochastic noise in glucosinolate accumulation and transcript levels in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Limitations

The study primarily focused on a single environment, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other conditions.

Participant Demographics

Arabidopsis thaliana recombinant inbred lines derived from Bayreuth and Shahdara accessions.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pgen.1002295

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