Evidence for increased levels of positive and negative selection on the X chromosome versus autosomes in humans.

ABSTRACT: Partially recessive variants under positive selection are expected to go to fixation more quickly on the X chromosome as a result of hemizygosity, an effect known as faster-X. Conversely, purifying selection is expected to reduce substitution rates more effectively on the X chromosome. Previous work in humans contrasted divergence on the autosomes and X chromosome, with results tending to support the faster-X effect. However, no study has yet incorporated both divergence and polymorphism to quantify the effects of both purifying and positive selection, which are opposing forces with respect to divergence. In this study, we develop a framework that integrates previously developed theory addressing differential rates of X and autosomal evolution with methods that jointly estimate the level o

SUBMITTER: Veeramah KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4137703 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature