Genetics of mandible form in the mouse.

The underlying determination of phenotypic variability and covariability is described for 14 traits that define the morphological size and shape of the mature mouse mandible. Variability is partitioned into components due to direct additive and dominance genetic effects, indirect maternal additive genetic effects, genetic covariance between direct additive and indirect maternal additive effects and common and residual environmental effects. Multivariate analyses of the dimensionality of genetic variability indicate several complex and independent genetic components underlie the morphological form of the mandible. The multidimensional nature of the genetic components suggests a complex picture with regard to the consequences of selection on mandibular form.