Natural selection opposing artificial selection: a two-locus deterministic simulation.

A two-locus, two-allele metric trait was submitted to artificial truncation selection and to three types of opposing natural selection (two-locus extensions of directional selection, overdominance and underdominance) by numerical simulation in a large random-mating population. Limits to selection were generally reached by generation 100. Intermediate selection plateaus were found, with minor genes, for all three modes of opposing natural selection, but they were least frequent with underdominance. Multiple outcomes were common. In particular, fixation of the genotype favored by artificial selection was often associated with fixation of another genotype and/or with a central equilibrium; the end point actually reached depended on the genetic starting point of the simulation. In general, when the alleles favored by truncation selection were combined (positive linkage disequilibrium) in the base population, or when the trait was determined by major genes, artificial selection would prevail. Limitations inherent to this type of work are discussed, and possible avenues for further work on the antagonism between artificial and natural selection are proposed.