A general reduction principle for genetic modifiers of recombination (Q580224)

This paper generalizes former results obtained by the authors concerning the fate of a new mutant modifier allele controlling recombination in a two-locus viability system. To be more precisely, the model considered in the paper assumes two linked loci (major loci) under viability selection and a third selectively neutral locus (modifier locus) that controls recombination between the first two. There are two alleles at each of the major loci, and an arbitrary number of n alleles at the modifier locus. Recombination occurring between major loci as well as between one major locus and the modifier locus is measured by four crossing over probabilities which depend on the genotype at the modifier locus. Transformation equations for all 4n gametic frequencies of the complete three locus system are given, and the existence of a special class of equilibria (called viability analogous Hardy-Weinberg equilibria) is investigated. As the main result of the paper it is shown that such an equilibrium (with the major loci in linkage disequilibrium) will be stable towards the invasion by a new allele at the modifier locus if and only if the average recombination rate between the major loci after introduction of the new allele is greater than before it. Thus, there is selection in favor of reduction of the recombination rate; this result is called the reduction principle of recombination. Moreover, it is shown that when the modifier locus and the major loci are tightly linked then this equilibrium is internally unstable, and if there is loose linkage, it is internally stable.