Plant and Animal Genome XXV Conference

January 13 - 18, 2017

4319

Hybridization, heterosis and balancing selection

Advances in genomic technologies leveraged the field of quantitative genetics and evolutionary breeding to high-resolution dissection of the genetic basis of complex traits. Nevertheless, most association studies (GWAS) and mapping population are focused on additive inheritance as the basis for the crop variation under domestication. Conversely, scans for signatures of selection are geared in a similar direction of genomic sweeps. More recent studies in model systems or in mapping populations of crop plants and livestock highlight the major role of balancing selection, heterozygous advantage, or disadvantage (incompatibilities) in determining the genotype to phenotype landscape. These findings shed new light on heterosis and at the same time highlight the role of balancing selection in maintaining mating barriers and speciation. Heterosis is defined as a phenotypic phenomenon in which hybrid between two inbred surpass both parents for complex traits such as growth and productivity, yet recently it is investigated for the molecular basis using genomics and epigenomics tools in large mapping populations. This workshop will gather researchers interested in breeding and evolutionary biology of crop plants, livestock and other model systems. The theme of this workshop is on theoretical and experimental approaches for gaining better understanding of heterosis, sources and consequences of heterozygosity, and the interplay of balancing selection in gene pools and mapping populations with adaptation and speciation. The workshop will promote discussion among participants from wide experimental systems on the approaches and standards required to identify, validate and study heterozygous effects and its interplay with adaptation (GxE interactions) and speciation.