Do body size components, such as weights of internal organs and long bone lengths, with different functions and different
developmental histories also have different genetic architectures and pleiotropic patterns? We examine murine quantitative
trait loci (QTL) for necropsy weight, four long bone lengths, and four organ weights in the LG/J × SM/J intercross. Differences
between trait categories were found in number of QTL, dominance, and pleiotropic patterns. Ninety-seven QTLs for individual
traits were identified: 52 for long bone lengths, 30 for organ weights, and 15 for necropsy weight. Results for long bones
are typically more highly significant than for organs. Organ weights were more frequently over- or underdominant than long
bone lengths or necropsy weight. The single-trait QTLs map to 35 pleiotropic loci. Long bones are much more frequently affected
in groups while organs tend to be affected singly or in pairs. Organs and long bones are found at the same locus in only 11
cases, 8 of which also include necropsy weight. Our results suggest mainly separate genetic modules for organ weights and
long bone lengths, with a few loci that affect overall body size. Antagonistic pleiotropy, in which a locus has opposite effects
on different characteristics, is uncommon.