Q<inf>ST</inf> -F<inf>ST</inf> comparisons: Evolutionary and ecological insights from genomic heterogeneity

Abstract

Comparative studies of the divergence of quantitative traits and neutral molecular markers, known as Q ST -F ST comparisons, provide a means for researchers to distinguish between natural selection and genetic drift as causes of population differentiation in complex polygenic traits. The use of Q ST -F ST comparisons has increased rapidly in the last few years, highlighting the utility of this approach for addressing a wide range of questions that are relevant to evolutionary and ecological genetics. These studies have also provided lessons for the design of future Q ST -F ST comparisons. Methods based on the Q ST -F ST approach could also be used to analyse various types of 'omics' data in new and revealing ways. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.