"Sex Ratio" in
 Drosophila pseudoobscura
 : Spermiogenic Failure

Policansky, David; Ellison, J. R.

doi:10.1126/science.169.3948.888

Cited by 97 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Other SGEs destroy sperm that do not pass on the selfish gene to subsequent generations by killing non-carrying sperm during spermatogenesis (e.g. meiotic drive [63]). However, the method of sperm killing can also have a detrimental side effect on the surviving carrier sperm that will compromise sperm performance (e.g.…”

Section: Selfish Genetic Elements and Sexual Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The dynamic relationship between polyandry and selfish genetic elements

Wedell

2013

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Selfish genetic elements (SGEs) are ubiquitous in eukaryotes and bacteria, and make up a large part of the genome. They frequently target sperm to increase their transmission success, but these manipulations are often associated with reduced male fertility. Low fertility of SGE-carrying males is suggested to promote polyandry as a female strategy to bias paternity against male carriers. Support for this hypothesis is found in several taxa, where SGE-carrying males have reduced sperm competitive ability. In contrast, when SGEs give rise to reproductive incompatibilities between SGE-carrying males and females, polyandry is not necessarily favoured, irrespective of the detrimental impact on male fertility. This is due to the frequency-dependent nature of these incompatibilities, because they will decrease in the population as the frequency of SGEs increases. However, reduced fertility of SGE-carrying males can prevent the successful population invasion of SGEs. In addition, SGEs can directly influence male and female mating behaviour, mating rates and reproductive traits (e.g. female reproductive tract length and male sperm). This reveals a potent and dynamic interaction between SGEs and polyandry highlighting the potential to generate sexual selection and conflict, but also indicates that polyandry can promote harmony within the genome by undermining the spread of SGEs.

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Section: Selfish Genetic Elements and Sexual Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura harbour an X-linked meiotic drive element, 'sex ratio' (SR) that results in female only broods owing to the elimination of all Y-chromosome sperm during spermatogenesis [63]. In females, SR has no consistent effect.…”

Section: Do Selfish Genetic Elements Promote Polyandry?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The dynamic relationship between polyandry and selfish genetic elements

Wedell

2013

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…In Drosophila sex-ratio strains, spermiogenic failure, in which spermatid nuclei are misplaced in the tail region of the cysts, rather than dimorphism of nuclei, has commonly been observed (Policansky and Ellison, 1970;Hauschteck-Jungen and Maurer, 1976;Cobbs et al, 1991;Montchamp-Moreau and Joly, 1997). This spermiogenic phenotype seems to be a secondary defect of meiotic failure, such as chromatin bridge or degeneration of the Y chromosome (Novitski et al, 1965;Peacock et al, 1975;Cazemajor et al, 2000).…”

Section: Spermiogenic Failure In Drosophila Meiotic Drivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, some studies show that sex-ratio males exhibit nondisjunction or degeneration of the Y chromosome during meiosis (Novitski et al, 1965;Cazemajor et al, 2000). In addition, disorganization and reduction of spermatids during spermiogenesis has been commonly observed in sex-ratio males (Policansky and Ellison, 1970;Hauschteck-Jungen and Maurer, 1976;Cobbs et al, 1991;MontchampMoreau and Joly, 1997). This appears to indicate that the abnormal spermatids generated due to the meiotic defect are eliminated during spermiogenesis in sex-ratio males.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elimination of Y chromosome-bearing spermatids during spermiogenesis in an autosomal sex-ratio mutant of Drosophila simulans

2013

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Sex ratio distortion, which is commonly abbreviated as sex-ratio, has been studied in many Drosophila species, but the mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we report on the sex-ratio mutant of D. simulans named excess of females (exf). The third chromosomal recessive mutation results in a sex ratio of approximately 0.2 or less (males/total). Cytological observation demonstrated that meiosis appeared to be completed normally, but that most Y chromosome-bearing nuclei failed to elongate during spermiogenesis, as revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridization using sex chromosome-specific probes. These aberrant nuclei contained membranous inclusions as revealed by electron microscopic analysis. Most of the aberrant exf spermatids failed to individualize and mature, suggesting that a later stage of spermiogenesis is involved in prevention of production of sperm with abnormal morphology. On the one hand, in exf seminal vesicles, sperm nuclei with a length of 5-8.5 μm were occasionally observed, in addition to those with wild-type sperm dimensions, that is, a length of approximately 10 μm. Thus, spermatids with less severe nuclear defects can escape elimination and be released into the seminal vesicles as mature sperm. Furthermore, we constructed His2AvD-GFP and ProtamineB-eGFP transgenic lines in D. simulans, and examined the processes involved in replacement of chromatin proteins over a time course, according to nuclear morphology. We found that both normal and abnormal sperm heads demonstrated equal chromatin replacement during late spermiogenesis. Our results suggest that exf belongs to a unique class of meiotic drive systems in that (1) intranuclear membranous inclusions cause failure of nuclear shaping of Y-bearing spermatids without affecting the histone-protamine transition, and (2) a portion of the aberrant spermatids differentiate into mature sperm; these are transferred to and stored by females.

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“…For the two species investigated in this respect, the lack of males is caused by degeneration of Y-bearing spermatids during spermiogenesis (Policansky & Ellison, 1970;Hauschteck-Jungen & Maurer, 1976). Sex-ratio is thus a special case of meiotic drive which affects the sex chromosomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autosomal suppressors of sex-ratio in Drosophila mediopunctata

Carvalho

1993

Heredity

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The sex-ratio trait has been described as the production of progenies with excess of females due to X-linked meiotic drive in the parental males. This trait has a variable expression in Drosophila niediopunctata. We describe here the existence and chromosomal localization of autosomal suppressors of sex-ratio in this species. There are at least four such genes (one on each major autosome) and the strongest effect is localized on chromosome IV. These genes possibly result from the operation of 'Fisher's Principle'; a mechanism of Natural Selection leading to a 1:1 sex ratio.

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"Sex Ratio" in Drosophila pseudoobscura : Spermiogenic Failure

Cited by 97 publications

References 6 publications

The dynamic relationship between polyandry and selfish genetic elements

The dynamic relationship between polyandry and selfish genetic elements

Elimination of Y chromosome-bearing spermatids during spermiogenesis in an autosomal <i>sex-ratio</i> mutant of <i>Drosophila simulans</i>

Autosomal suppressors of sex-ratio in Drosophila mediopunctata

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