动态复杂性状遗传结构研究的统计模型

许多重要的农艺性状、生物学和生物医学性状都是数量性状，这些性状在不同的发育阶段发生变化，并表现出复杂的动态特征。针对这些动态性状，传统的遗传作图方法是通过在不同的年龄或发育阶段利用遗传标记与表型性状进行关联分析，并比较这些性状在不同发育阶段的差异，或者通过进行不同阶段的多位点作图进行分析。然而，这些方法并不能确切地反映整个发育过程和动态特点，这使得对性状遗传结构的推测受到限制。要克服这一困难，函数作图将为动态性状的遗传学研究提供一条有效的途径。函数作图综合了生物学机制的数学特性和性状遗传作图的统计学特点，结合统计模型、遗传学和发育生物学的函数作图策略，力求解决诸如发育的遗传控制模式、QTL的持续效应以及引起发育过程中启动和终止的遗传机制等问题。笔者提出的函数作图策略将提供一个研究基因作用及互作与发育模式之间有效的量化检测平台。

Statistical Models for Studying the Genetic Architecture of Dynamic Complex Traits

Many quantitative traits of agricultural, biological and biomedical importance alter their phenotypes over development and display a complicated dynamic feature. Traditional approaches for genetic mapping of these so called dynamic traits have been to associate markers with phenotypes for different ages or stages of development and to compare the differences across these stages, or to use multiple trait mapping where the same character is repeatedly measured at different times. In either case, these approaches does not capture the dynamic structure and pattern of the process, which greatly limits the scope of inference about its genetic architecture. To overcome these limitations, Functional Mapping, that is, the integration of the mathematical aspects of the biological mechanisms and processes of the traits within the statistical genetic mapping framework, is the natural way to approach the genetics of dynamic traits. The combination of statistical modelling, genetics, and developmental biology begs many questions, such as the patterns of genetic control over development, the duration of QTL effects, as well as what causes developmental trajectories to change or stop changing. This paper shows that the functional mapping provides a useful quantitative and testable framework for assessing the interplay between gene actions/interactions and developmental patterns.