Selfish genes and sexual selection: the impact of genomic parasites on host reproduction
Wedell, N
Date: 8 April 2020
Journal
Journal of Zoology
Publisher
Wiley for Zoological Society of London
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Selfish genetic elements (SGEs) such as replicating mobile elements, segregation distorters,
and maternally inherited endosymbionts, bias their transmission success relative to the rest of
the genome to increase in representation in subsequent generations. As such they generate
conflict with the rest of the genome. Such intra-genomic ...
Selfish genetic elements (SGEs) such as replicating mobile elements, segregation distorters,
and maternally inherited endosymbionts, bias their transmission success relative to the rest of
the genome to increase in representation in subsequent generations. As such they generate
conflict with the rest of the genome. Such intra-genomic conflict is also a hallmark of
sexually antagonistic (SA) alleles, which are shared genes between the sexes but that have
opposing fitness effects when expressed in males and females. However, while both SGEs
and SA alleles are recognised as common and potent sources of genomic conflict, the
realisation that SGEs can also generate sexually antagonistic selection and contribute to
sexual conflict in addition to generate sexual selection is largely overlooked. Here I show that
SGEs frequently generate sex-specific selection and outline how SGEs that are associated
with compromised male fertility can shape female mating patterns, play a key role in the
dynamics of sex determination systems, and likely be an important source of sexually
antagonistic genetic variation. Given the prevalence of SGEs their contribution to sexual
conflict is likely to be greatly overlooked.
Biosciences - old structure
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