Mutational Genetic Variance and the Fitness Optimum (2011-2013)

Mutations with pleiotropic effects are predicted by theory to generate apparent stabilizing selection on simple metric traits, but evidence has been lacking for what should be a wide-spread phenomenon. In recent work, I have discovered strong apparent stabilizing selection on the major axes of genetic variation in sets of metric traits. I now propose a series of experiments to generalise the extent of apparent selection generated by mutation each generation across the genome, to provide manipulative evidence for the presence of the fitness optimum defined by apparent stabilizing selection, and the role of sexual selection in maintaining populations at this optimum.