Molecular traits, such as gene expression levels or protein binding affinities, are increasingly accessible to quantitative measurement by modern high-throughput techniques. Such traits measure molecular functions and, from an evolutionary point of view, are important as targets of natural selection. We review recent developments in evolutionary theory and experiments that are expected to becom...

Reduced genetic variation at marker loci in small populations has been well documented, whereas the relationship between quantitative genetic variation and population size has attracted little empirical investigation. Here we demonstrate that both neutral and quantitative genetic variation are reduced in small populations of a fragmented plant metapopulation, and that both drift and selective c...

We investigate the variation in quantitative and molecular traits in the freshwater snail Galba truncatula, from permanent and temporary water habitats. Using a common garden experiment, we measured 20 quantitative traits and molecular variation using seven microsatellites in 17 populations belonging to these two habitats. We estimated trait means in each habitat. We also estimated the distribu...

This article reviews key contributions in the area of statistics as applied to the use of molecular marker technology and quantitative genetics in the search for genes affecting quantitative traits responsible for specific diseases and economically important agronomic traits. Since an exhaustive literature review is not possible, the limited scope of this work is to encourage further statistica...

Cornelian cherry is one of the most important small fruits in Arasbaran region, with wide applications in medicines and food products. In this study, the relationship among 28 quantitative and qualitative traits related to fruit, leaf, tree, and flower of 20 cornelian cherry genotypes was evaluated. Significant positive as well as negative correlations were found among some important quantitati...