Constraints Evolve: Context Dependency of Gene Effects Allows Evolution of Pleiotropy
Constraints Evolve: Context Dependency of Gene Effects Allows Evolution of Pleiotropy
Evolutionary constraint due to pleiotropy refers to a situation in which mutations in genes shared among traits generate trait covariance; therefore, traits that are not directly exposed to selective challenge show a correlated response. When such a correlated response is deleterious, it may constrain the trait from evolving. Here, we …