Structural and evolutionary features of red algal UV sex chromosomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sex chromosomes in red algae have remained relatively understudied, despite their fundamental role in understanding the evolution of sex determination across eukaryotes. In this study, we investigate the structure, gene composition, and evolutionary history of the U and V sex chromosomes in four Gracilaria species, which diverged approximately 100 million years ago.

Results

Our findings reveal that UV sex chromosomes, previously identified in green and brown algae as well as bryophytes, have also evolved in red algae, contributing to the diversity of sex determination systems across eukaryotes. The shared orthology of conserved sex-determining region genes between Gracilaria and distantly related red algae suggests that this system may have originated approximatel

SUBMITTER: Lipinska AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12502185 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature