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Genetic variation for morphological and behavioral traits in wild house mice

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Abstract

Twenty-two wild-caught male house mice were test crossed to females from the CBA inbred line, and their progeny were measured for 7 morphological and 10 behavioral traits. Significant genetic variance among the wild-caught sires was detected for snout-vent length, tail length, footpad bristle number, and fertility, while significant effects of the maternal CBA environment were detected for tail length, hindfoot length, and open-field defecation. On average over all 7 morphological traits, 62% of the total variance among the progeny was estimated to be due to genetic variation, while 15% was attributed to differences in maternal environment. Over the 10 behavioral traits, the corresponding figures were 22% due to genetic variation and 24% due to the maternal environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Adelaide, 5001, Adelaide, South Australia

    J. G. Oakeshott & C. Chesson

  2. Department of Population Biology, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, 2601, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

    J. G. Oakeshott

  3. School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, 5042, Bedford Park, South Australia

    G. C. Kirby

Authors
  1. J. G. Oakeshott
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  2. G. C. Kirby
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  3. C. Chesson
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Oakeshott, J.G., Kirby, G.C. & Chesson, C. Genetic variation for morphological and behavioral traits in wild house mice. Behav Genet 12, 343–348 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067853

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067853

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