Identification of the sex-determining factor in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha reveals unique evolution of sex chromosomes in a haploid system.

ABSTRACT: Sex determination is a central process for sexual reproduction and is often regulated by a sex determinant encoded on a sex chromosome. Rules that govern the evolution of sex chromosomes via specialization and degeneration following the evolution of a sex determinant have been well studied in diploid organisms. However, distinct predictions apply to sex chromosomes in organisms where sex is determined in the haploid phase of the life cycle: both sex chromosomes, female U and male V, are expected to maintain their gene functions, even though both are non-recombining. This is in contrast to the X-Y (or Z-W) asymmetry and Y (W) chromosome degeneration in XY (ZW) systems of diploids. Here, we provide evidence that sex chromosomes diverged early during the evolution of haploid liverworts and id

SUBMITTER: Iwasaki M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8699743 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature