The role of unbalanced segmental duplication in sex chromosome evolution in Australian ridge-tailed goannas.

ABSTRACT: Varanids are known for conserved sex chromosomes, but there are differences in the size of the W chromosome but not in morphology among species representing varying stages of sex chromosome evolution. We tested for homology of the ZW sex chromosome system with size differences in varanids among four species from two lineages in Australia, the Odatria and the Gouldii. We found that while DNA sequences of the sex chromosomes are conserved in the species we tested, we also identified a homologous region on an enlarged autosomal microchromosome that shares sequences with the W chromosome in some isolated populations of V. acanthurus and V. citrinus from the Odatria lineage. The enlarged microchromosome was unpaired in all individuals tested and is likely an unbalanced segmental duplication tra

SUBMITTER: Dobry J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11903900 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature