Digest: A sex chromosome driver without a sperm deficit

Evolution. 2024 Mar 26;78(4):801-802. doi: 10.1093/evolut/qpae002.

Abstract

Meiotic drivers that act during spermatogenesis derive a transmission advantage by disabling sperm that do not carry the driver, often leading to substantially reduced overall sperm number and function. A new study by Bates et al. shows no sperm deficit for a driver in a stalk-eyed fly, in contrast to a related species. This observed sperm compensation is possibly due to secondary testes-expanding mutations linked to the driving genomic locus.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diptera* / genetics
  • Male
  • Semen
  • Sex Chromosomes / genetics
  • Sex Ratio
  • Spermatozoa
  • X Chromosome*