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Citation |
Ross L, Shuker DM, Pen I. Evolution 2011; 65(2): 554-563. |
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Affiliation |
Theoretical Biology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2011, Society for the Study of Evolution, Publisher John Wiley and Sons) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
21029080 |
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Abstract |
Different genetic systems can be both the cause and the consequence of genetic conflict over the transmission of genes, obscuring their evolutionary origin. For instance, with paternal genome elimination (PGE), found in some insects and mites, both sexes develop from fertilized eggs, but in males the paternally derived chromosomes are either lost (embryonic PGE) or deactivated (germ line PGE) during embryogenesis and not transmitted to the next generation. Evolution of germ line PGE requires two transitions: (1) elimination of the paternal genome during spermatogenesis; (2) deactivation of the paternal genome early in development. Hypotheses for the evolution of PGE have mainly focused on the first transition. However, maternal genes seem to be responsible for the deactivation and here we investigate if maternal suppression could have evolved in response to paternally expressed male suicide genes. We show that sibling competition can cause such genes to spread quickly and that inbreeding is necessary to prevent fixation of male suicide, and subsequent population extinction. Once male-suicide has evolved, maternally expressed suppressor genes can invade in the population. Our results highlight the rich opportunity for genetic conflict in asymmetric genetic systems and the counter-intuitive phenotypes that can evolve as a result. Language: en |