---
_id: '3649'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Selection on polygenic characters is generally analyzed by statistical methods
    that assume a Gaussian (normal) distribution of breeding values. We present an
    alternative analysis based on multilocus population genetics. We use a general
    representation of selection, recombination, and drift to analyze an idealized
    polygenic system in which all genetic effects are additive (i.e., both dominance
    and epistasis are absent), but no assumptions are made about the distribution
    of breeding values or the numbers of loci or alleles. Our analysis produces three
    results. First, our equations reproduce the standard recursions for the mean and
    additive variance if breeding values are Gaussian; but they also reveal how non-Gaussian
    distributions of breeding values will alter these dynamics. Second, an approximation
    valid for weak selection shows that even if genetic variance is attributable to
    an effectively infinite number of loci with only additive effects, selection will
    generally drive the distribution of breeding values away from a Gaussian distribution
    by creating multilocus linkage disequilibria. Long-term dynamics of means can
    depart substantially from the predictions of the standard selection recursions,
    but the discrepancy may often be negligible for short-term selection. Third, by
    including mutation, we show that, for realistic parameter values, linkage disequilibrium
    has little effect on the amount of additive variance maintained at an equilibrium
    between stabilizing selection and mutation. Each of these analytical results is
    supported by numerical calculations.
acknowledgement: 'We thank R. Burger, J. A. Coyne, W. G. Hill, A. A. Hoffmann, J.
  H. Gillespie, M. Slatkin, T. Nagylaki and Z.-B. Zeng for helpful discussions and
  comments on earlier drafts. Our research is supported by grants from the National
  Science Foundation (BSR-8866548), the Science and Engineering Research Council,
  and the Institute of Theoretical Dynamics at UCD. '
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Michael
  full_name: Turelli, Michael
  last_name: Turelli
- first_name: Nicholas H
  full_name: Barton, Nicholas H
  id: 4880FE40-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Barton
  orcid: 0000-0002-8548-5240
citation:
  ama: Turelli M, Barton NH. Dynamics of polygenic characters under selection. <i>Theoretical
    Population Biology</i>. 1990;38(1):1-57. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D">10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D</a>
  apa: Turelli, M., &#38; Barton, N. H. (1990). Dynamics of polygenic characters under
    selection. <i>Theoretical Population Biology</i>. Academic Press. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D">https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D</a>
  chicago: Turelli, Michael, and Nicholas H Barton. “Dynamics of Polygenic Characters
    under Selection.” <i>Theoretical Population Biology</i>. Academic Press, 1990.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D">https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D</a>.
  ieee: M. Turelli and N. H. Barton, “Dynamics of polygenic characters under selection,”
    <i>Theoretical Population Biology</i>, vol. 38, no. 1. Academic Press, pp. 1–57,
    1990.
  ista: Turelli M, Barton NH. 1990. Dynamics of polygenic characters under selection.
    Theoretical Population Biology. 38(1), 1–57.
  mla: Turelli, Michael, and Nicholas H. Barton. “Dynamics of Polygenic Characters
    under Selection.” <i>Theoretical Population Biology</i>, vol. 38, no. 1, Academic
    Press, 1990, pp. 1–57, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D">10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D</a>.
  short: M. Turelli, N.H. Barton, Theoretical Population Biology 38 (1990) 1–57.
date_created: 2018-12-11T12:04:26Z
date_published: 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2026-03-16T13:25:00Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1016/0040-5809(90)90002-D
extern: '1'
intvolume: '        38'
issue: '1'
language:
- iso: eng
month: '01'
oa_version: None
page: 1 - 57
publication: Theoretical Population Biology
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 0040-5809
publication_status: published
publisher: Academic Press
publist_id: '2734'
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Dynamics of polygenic characters under selection
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 38
year: '1990'
...