Data from: Predicting the response to simultaneous selection: genetic architecture and physiological constraints

A great deal is known about the evolutionary significance of body size and development time. They are determined by the non-linear interaction of three physiological traits: two hormonal events and growth rate. In this study we investigate how the genetic architecture of the underlying three physiological traits affects the simultaneous response to selection on the two life history traits in the hawk moth Manduca sexta. The genetic architecture suggests that when the two life history traits are both selected in the same direction (to increase or decrease) the response to selection is primarily determined by the hormonal mechanism. When the life history traits are selected in opposite directions (one to increase and one to decrease) the response to selection is primarily determined by factors that affect the growth rate. To determine how the physiological traits affect the response to selection of the life history traits, we simulated the predicted response to ten generations of selection. 83% of our predictions were supported by the simulation. The main components of this physiological framework also exist in unicellular organisms, vertebrates and plants and can thus provide a robust framework for understanding how underlying physiology can determine the simultaneous evolution of life history traits.

学界对体型与发育时长的进化意义已有较为充分的认知。这两类性状由三类生理性状的非线性互作所决定：两类激素事件与生长速率。本研究以烟草天蛾（Manduca sexta）为实验对象，探究上述三类生理性状的遗传架构（genetic architecture），如何调控对两类生活史性状（life history traits）的同时选择响应。遗传架构分析结果显示：当两类生活史性状受到同向选择（即同时提升或同时降低）时，选择响应主要由激素机制主导；而当两类性状受到反向选择（即一方提升、另一方降低）时，选择响应则主要由影响生长速率的因素所决定。为明确生理性状如何作用于生活史性状的选择响应，我们针对十代选择的预测响应开展了模拟实验，模拟结果验证了83%的研究预测。该生理框架的核心组分广泛存在于单细胞生物、脊椎动物与植物中，因此可为阐释基础生理如何调控生活史性状的协同进化提供一套稳健的理论框架。