Termite queens close the sperm gates of eggs to switch from sexual to asexual reproduction.

ABSTRACT: Males and females are in conflict over genetic transmission in the evolution of parthenogenesis, because it enhances female reproductive output but deprives the males' genetic contribution. For males, any trait that coerces females into sexual reproduction should increase their fitness. However, in the termite Reticulitermes speratus, queens produce their replacements (neotenic queens) parthenogenetically while using normal sexual reproduction to produce other colony members. Here, we show that termite queens produce parthenogenetic offspring in the presence of kings by closing the micropyles (sperm gates; i.e., openings for sperm entry) of their eggs. Our field survey showed that termite eggs show large variation in numbers of micropyles, with some having none. Microsatellite analysis sho

SUBMITTER: Yashiro T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4260566 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature