Intergenomic arms races: detection of a nuclear rescue gene of male-killing in a ladybird.

ABSTRACT: Many species of arthropod are infected by deleterious inherited micro-organisms. Typically these micro-organisms are inherited maternally. Consequently, some, particularly bacteria of the genus Wolbachia, employ a variety of strategies that favour female over male hosts. These strategies include feminisation, induction of parthenogenesis and male-killing. These strategies result in female biased sex ratios in host populations, which lead to selection for host factors that promote male production. In addition, the intra-genomic conflict produced by the difference in transmission of these cytoplasmic endosymbionts and nuclear factors will impose a pressure favouring nuclear factors that suppress the effects of the symbiont. During investigations of the diversity of male-killing bacteria in l

SUBMITTER: Majerus TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2900309 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature