Genetic exchange with an outcrossing sister species causes severe genome-wide dysregulation in a selfing Caenorhabditis nematode.

ABSTRACT: Different modes of reproduction evolve rapidly, with important consequences for genome composition. Selfing species often occupy a similar niche as their outcrossing sister species with which they are able to mate and produce viable hybrid progeny, raising the question of how they maintain genomic identity. Here, we investigate this issue by using the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae, which reproduces as a hermaphrodite, and its outcrossing sister species Caenorhabditis nigoni We hypothesize that selfing species might develop some barriers to prevent gene intrusions through gene regulation. We therefore examined gene regulation in the hybrid F2 embryos resulting from reciprocal backcrosses between F1 hybrid progeny and C. nigoni or C. briggsae F2 hybrid embryos

SUBMITTER: Xie D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9808620 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature