Reproductive isolation in a nascent species pair is associated with aneuploidy in hybrid offspring.

ABSTRACT: Speciation may occur when the genomes of two populations accumulate genetic incompatibilities and/or chromosomal rearrangements that prevent inter-breeding in nature. Chromosome stability is critical for survival and faithful transmission of the genome, and hybridization can compromise this. However, the role of chromosomal stability on hybrid incompatibilities has rarely been tested in recently diverged populations. Here, we test for chromosomal instability in hybrids between nascent species, the 'dwarf' and 'normal' lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis). We examined chromosomes in pure embryos, and healthy and malformed backcross embryos. While pure individuals displayed chromosome numbers corresponding to the expected diploid number (2n = 80), healthy backcrosses showed evidence of mi

SUBMITTER: Dion-Cote AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4344159 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature