Faster Rates of Molecular Sequence Evolution in Reproduction-Related Genes and in Species with Hypodermic Sperm Morphologies.

ABSTRACT: Sexual selection drives the evolution of many striking behaviors and morphologies and should leave signatures of selection at loci underlying these phenotypes. However, although loci thought to be under sexual selection often evolve rapidly, few studies have contrasted rates of molecular sequence evolution at such loci across lineages with different sexual selection contexts. Furthermore, work has focused on separate sexed animals, neglecting alternative sexual systems. We investigate rates of molecular sequence evolution in hermaphroditic flatworms of the genus Macrostomum. Specifically, we compare species that exhibit contrasting sperm morphologies, strongly associated with multiple convergent shifts in the mating strategy, reflecting different sexual selection contexts. Species donating

SUBMITTER: Wiberg RAW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8662610 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature