Biased social chromosome transmission in males of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta.

ABSTRACT: Selfish genetic elements subvert the normal rules of inheritance to unfairly propagate themselves, often at the expense of other genomic elements and the fitness of individuals carrying them. Social life provides diverse avenues for the propagation of such elements. In the fire ant Solenopsis invicta, polymorphic social organization is controlled by a social chromosome, one variant of which (Sb) enhances its own transmission in polygyne colonies through effects on caste development and queen acceptance by workers. Whether the selfish effects of Sb extend to haploid (reproductive) males in this system is less clear. Here, we demonstrate a strong overrepresentation of the Sb social chromosome haplotype in reproductive males, relative to Mendelian expectations, in both the pupal and adult sta

SUBMITTER: Hettesheimer DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11797023 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature