Genetics of Growth

Our laboratory has had a long-term interest in the genetics of growth processes. We followed our earlier quantitative genetic studies in rodents with a series of quantitative trait locus experiments identifying genomic regions that affect body size growth process. In these experiments we found that distinct sets of genomic regions affected early postnatal growth (one to three weeks) and later growth (4 to 10 weeks). After 10 weeks skeletal growth appears to be complete but animals still gain weight, primarily due to increases in fat both in adipose depots and in organs. These studies also overlap with our studies of genetic maternal effects and genomic imprinting and their influences on growth.

Collaborators

Dr. Jason Wolf, University of Manchester, UK

Dr. Rongling Wu, University of Florida

Publications on the Topic

Wolf, J. B., J. M. Cheverud, C. C. Roseman and R. Hager. 2008. Genome-wide analysis reveals a complex pattern of genomic imprinting in mice. PLoS Genetics 4(6): e1000091.

Hager, R., J. M. Cheverud, J.B. Wolf. 2008. Maternal effects as the cause of parent-of-origin effects that mimic genomic imprinting. Genetics 178: 1755-1762.

Cui, Y., J. M. Cheverud and R. Wu. 2007. A statistical model for dissecting genomic imprinting through genetic mapping. Genetica 130: 227-239.

Long, F., Y. Q. Chen, J. M. Cheverud and R. Wong. 2006. Genetic mapping of allometric scaling laws. Genetical Research, Cambridge 87: 207-216.

Cui, Y., Q. Lu, J. M. Cheverud, R. C. Littell, and R. Wu 2006. Model for mapping imprinted quantitative trait loci in an inbred F 2 design. Genomics 87: 543-551.

Cheverud, J. M. 2005. Genetics of growth in the mouse. In: The Mouse in Animal Genetics and Breeding Research, E. J. Eisen (ed.), Imperial College Press, London, pp. 113-130.

Lin, M., C. X. Ma, W. Zhao, J. Cheverud, and R. Wu. 2005. Mechanistic mapping of ontogenetic growth based on biological principles. Growth, Development and Aging, 69: 31-37.

Zhao, W., Y. Q. Chen, J. M. Cheverud and R. L Wu 2005. A nonstationary model for functional mapping of complex traits. Bioinformatics 21: 2469-2477.

Wu, R., Z. Wang, W. Zhao and J. M. Cheverud 2004. A mechanistic model for the genetic machinery of ontogenetic growth. Genetics 168: 2383-2394.

Zhao, W., C-X Ma, J. M. Cheverud and R. Wu 2004. A unifying statistical model for QTL mapping of genotype-sex interaction for developmental trajectories. Physiological Genomics 19:218-277.

Wolf, J. B., T. T. Vaughn, L. S. Pletscher and J. M. Cheverud 2002. Contribution of maternal effect QTL to the genetic architecture of early growth in mice. Heredity, 89: 300-310.

Vaughn, T. T., L. S. Pletscher, A. Peripato, K. King-Ellison, E. Adams, C. Erikson and J. M. Cheverud 1999. Mapping quantitative trait loci for murine growth – A closer look at genetic architecture. Genetical Research, Camb., 74: 313-322.

Kramer, M. G., T. T. Vaughn, L. S. Pletscher, K. King-Ellison, E. Adams, C. Erickson and J. M. Cheverud 1998. Genetic variation in body weight growth and composition in the intercross of Large (LG/J) and Small (SM/J) inbred strains of mice. Genetics and Molecular Biology, 21: 211-218.

Jaquish, C. E., S. D. Tardif and J. M. Cheverud 1997. Interactions between infant growth and survival: Evidence for selection on age-specific body weight in captive marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). American Journal of Primatology 42: 269-280.

Kohn, L. A. P., P. Olson and J. Cheverud 1997. Age of epiphyseal closure in tamarins and marmosets. American Journal of Primatology 41: 129-139.

Cheverud, J., E. Routman, F. M. Duarte, B. van Swinderen, K. Cothran and C. Perel 1996. Quantitative trait loci for murine growth, Genetics 142: 1305-1319.

Jaquish, C. E., J. M. Cheverud and S. D. Tardif. 1996. Genetic and environmental impacts on litter size and early infant survival in three species of callitrichids (Primates). Journal of Heredity, 87: 74-77.

Richtsmeier, J., B. Corner, H. Grausz, J. Cheverud and S. Danahey 1993. The role of postnatal growth pattern in the production of facial morphology. Systematic Biology, 42: 307-330.

Cheverud, J., W. P. J. Dittus and P. Wilson 1992 Primate population studies at Polonnaruwa. III. Somatometric growth in a natural population of toque macaques (Macaca sinica). Journal of Human Evolution, 23: 51-78.

Charles, D., K. Condon, J. Cheverud and J. Buikstra 1989 Estimating age-at-death from growth layer groups in cementum. In: M. Iscan (ed.), Age Markers in the Human Skeleton. Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, Springfield, IL, pp. 277-301.

Richtsmeier, J. and J. Cheverud 1989 Sexual dimorphism of facial growth in Macaca mulatta and M. fasicularis. In: H. Splectna and H. Helge (eds.). Trends in Vertebrate Morphology, Proceedings of the 2 nd International Symposium on Vertebrate Morphology, Fortschritte der Zoologie, vol. 35, Gustav Fisher Verlag, New York, pp. 438-440.

Richtsmeier, J., and J. Cheverud 1986 Finite element scaling analysis of normal human craniofacial growth. J. Craniofacial Gen. and Devel. Biol. 6: 289-323.

Cheverud, J., and J. Richtsmeier 1986 Finite-element scaling applied to sexual dimorphism in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) facial growth. Syst. Zool. 35: 381-399.

Charles, D., K. Condon, J. Cheverud and J. Buikstra 1986 Cementum annulation and age determination in Homo sapiens. I. Tooth variability and observer error. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 71: 311-320.

Condon, K., D. Charles, J. Cheverud and J. Buikstra 1986 Cementum annulation and age determination in Homo sapiens. II. Estimates and accuracy. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 71: 321-330.

Cheverud, J., and L. Leamy 1985 Quantitative genetics and the evolution of ontogeny. III. Ontogenetic changes in correlation structure among live-body traits in randombred mice. Genet. Res., Camb. 46: 325-335.

Leamy, L., and J. Cheverud 1984 Quantitative genetics and the evolution of ontogeny. II. Genetic and environmental correlations among age-specific characters in randombred house mice. Growth, 48: 339-353.

Cheverud, J., J. Rutledge, and W. Atchley 1983 Quantitative genetics of development: Genetic correlations among age-specific trait values and the evolution of ontogeny. Evolution, 37: 895-905.

Cheverud J., L. Leamy, J. Rutledge and W. Atchley 1983 Quantitative genetics and the evolution of ontogeny. I. Ontogenetic changes in quantitative genetic variance components in randombred mice. Genetical Research, Camb. 42: 65-75.

Cheverud, J. 1981 Epiphyseal union and dental eruption in Macaca mulatta. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 56: 157-167.