title: Trait Correlations in the Genomics Era.
abstract: Thinking about the evolutionary causes and consequences of trait correlations has been dominated by quantitative genetics theory that is focused on hypothetical loci. Since this theory was initially developed, technology has enabled the identification of specific genetic variants that contribute to trait correlations. Here, we review studies of the genetic basis of trait correlations to ask: What has this new information taught us? We find that causal variants can be pleiotropic and/or linked in different ways, indicating that pleiotropy and linkage are not alternative genetic mechanisms. Further, many trait correlations have a polygenic basis, suggesting that both pleiotropy and linkage likely contribute. We discuss implications of these findings for the evolutionary causes and consequences of trait correlations.
authors.affiliation: Rice University,6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA. Electronic address: julia.b.saltz@rice.edu.
authors.forename: Julia B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Saltz
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Frances C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Hessel
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, 202 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Morgan W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D014644:Genetic Variation; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci
keywords: correlated characters; genetic basis; linkage disequilibrium; pleiotropy; trait correlations