HJ Muller and the Relationship Between Sex Chromosome Degeneration and the Evolution of Dosage Compensation.

ABSTRACT: A lack of recombination in the heterogametic sex between parts or all of newly evolving sex chromosomes results in the gradual accumulation of deleterious mutations on proto-Y or proto-W chromosomes. This "genetic degeneration" is caused by several population genetic mechanisms. It can eventually lead to the loss of functionality and deletions of Y- or W-linked genes in species with male or female heterogamety, respectively, reducing the fitness of heterozygous XY males or ZW females. This creates selection to compensate for such degeneration. Contemporary studies of degeneration and dosage compensation are built on classical genetic work by HJ Muller, with molecular analyses of genomes and gene expression now revealing new details. We review these studies, integrating ideas about how dege

SUBMITTER: Charlesworth B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12598394 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature