Molecular ecology, 2011-06, Vol.20 (12), p.2471-2476
2011
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Details
- Autor(en) / Beteiligte
- Titel
- Testing for causality in covarying traits: genes and latitude in a molecular world
- Ist Teil von
- Molecular ecology, 2011-06, Vol.20 (12), p.2471-2476
- Ort / Verlag
- Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
- Erscheinungsjahr
- 2011
- Quelle
- MEDLINE
- Beschreibungen/Notizen
- Many traits are assumed to have a causal (necessary) relationship with one another because of their common covariation with a physiological, ecological or geographical factor. Herein, we demonstrate a straightforward test for inferring causality using residuals from regression of the traits with the common factor. We illustrate this test using the covariation with latitude of a proxy for the circadian clock and a proxy for the photoperiodic timer in Drosophila and salmon. A negative result of this test means that further discussion of the adaptive significance of a causal connection between the covarying traits is unwarranted. A positive result of this test provides a point of departure that can then be used as a platform from which to determine experimentally the underlying functional connections and only then to discuss their adaptive significance.
- Sprache
- Englisch
- Identifikatoren
- ISSN: 0962-1083eISSN: 1365-294XDOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05133.xTitel-ID: cdi_pubmedcentral_primary_oai_pubmedcentral_nih_gov_3362484
- Format
- –
- Schlagworte
- Animals, Biological Evolution, Causality, circadian, Circadian Clocks - genetics, Circadian Clocks - physiology, covariation, Drosophila, Drosophila - genetics, Drosophila - physiology, ecogeographic gradient, Genes, Molecular biology, Photoperiod, photoperiodism, salmon, Salmon - genetics, Salmon - physiology, Salmonidae, Seasons, Time Factors