Strong Purifying Selection in Haploid Tissue-Specific Genes of Scots Pine Supports the Masking Theory.

ABSTRACT: The masking theory states that genes expressed in a haploid stage will be under more efficient selection. In contrast, selection will be less efficient in genes expressed in a diploid stage, where the fitness effects of recessive deleterious or beneficial mutations can be hidden from selection in heterozygous form. This difference can influence several evolutionary processes such as the maintenance of genetic variation, adaptation rate, and genetic load. Masking theory expectations have been confirmed in single-cell haploid and diploid organisms. However, in multicellular organisms, such as plants, the effects of haploid selection are not clear-cut. In plants, the great majority of studies indicating haploid selection have been carried out using male haploid tissues in angiosperms. Hence,

SUBMITTER: Cervantes S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10457172 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature