A mitochondrial genetic divergence proxy predicts the reproductive compatibility of mammalian hybrids.

ABSTRACT: Numerous pairs of evolutionarily divergent mammalian species have been shown to produce hybrid offspring. In some cases, F₁ hybrids are able to produce F₂s through matings with F₁s. In other instances, the hybrids are only able to produce offspring themselves through backcrosses with a parent species owing to unisexual sterility (Haldane's Rule). Here, we explicitly tested whether genetic distance, computed from mitochondrial and nuclear genes, can be used as a proxy to predict the relative fertility of the hybrid offspring resulting from matings between species of terrestrial mammals. We assessed the proxy's predictive power using a well-characterized felid hybrid system, and applied it to modern and ancient hominins. Our results revealed a small overlap i

SUBMITTER: Allen R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7341909 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature