Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Reproductive Isolation”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Analysis of incipient reproductive isolation within a species of Drosophila.

Drosophila willistoni and its subspecies quechua are morphologically indistinguishable, but differ in relative frequencies of certain allozyme genes. The cross quechua female X willistoni male produces nearly or completely sterile males, while the reciprocal cross gives fertile males. Hybrid females are fertile. Analysis of the sterility with the aid of chromosomes marked with mutant genes shows that the second and X-chromosomes have major and third chromosomes minor effects. Backcross males of the same chromosomal constitution may be either fertile or sterile; the threshold effect may be due to environmental variations or to gene variants present in the strains crossed. Only a trace of ethological isolation between the subspecies is present. In contrast to a narrowly localized and geographically isolated subspecies bogotana of D. pseudoobscura, the subspecies quechua of D. willistoni is fairly widespread, although its geographic area is not accurately known. Neither with bogotana nor with quechua are there valid reasons to suppose that these subspecies are of very recent origin.

Biological Evolution

Postmating reproductive isolation and modification of the 'sex ratio' trait in Drosophila subobscura induced by the sex chromosome gene arrangement A2+3+5+7.

Drosophila subobscura males were trapped in Tunis, and mated to different lab strains. The offspring from 15% of these wild Tunisian males consisted of more than 90% females. Chromosome analysis showed that these males had carried the A2+3+5+7 which was described as 'sex ratio' chromosome, endemic in North Africa and the Canary Islands. The mean female frequency in the total offspring of all trapped males was 61%. This percentage was stable for more than ten years. F1 females from the mating of wild Tunisian males to Küsnacht standard females were backcrossed to Küsnacht standard males. In the offspring of this back cross, A2+3+5+7-males were sterile. The fertility of A2+3+5+7-males could be restored in two ways: 1) When the Küsnacht standard autosomes were replaced by Tunisian autosomes, most of the A2+3+5+7-males were again fertile. The A2+3+5+7-chromosome seems to be incompatible with autosomes from a geographically distant region. 2) After exchanging autosomes between lines, in which A2+3+5+7-males were 100% sterile, fertility could be restored in 30% of the A2+3+5+7-males. All males carrying one specific A2+3+5+7 stayed sterile as well in combination with autosomes from different lines as with Tunisian autosomes. The Y-chromosome and the cytoplasm was the same in sterile and in fertile A2+3+5+7-males. Therefore the origin of the Y-chromosome and the cytoplasm could not play a major role in sterility. The percentage of fertile males varied for different Y-chromosomes. Thus the Y-chromosomes may have some influence on fertility in this study. The restored fertility of A2+3+5+7-males can be explained assuming complementation. Defects of autosomes, and perhaps of the Y-chromosomes, could differ from line to line. Genomic changes may have happened when the A2+3+5+7 was in the genome together with autosomes and Y-chromosomes from Swiss populations. The A-chromosome which prevented fertility in all combinations, is thought to be itself defective. In one cross the 'sex ratio' trait was modified. In the offspring of some males the male to female ratio was 1:1. The variable sex ratio in the offspring from different males may have been an effect of the autosomes. In short, the intraspecific hybrid sterility and modification of the 'sex ratio' trait in D. subobscura indicate that: a) an incompatibility possibly existed between the gene arrangement A2+3+5+7 from one population and autosomes respectively Y-chromosomes from a population isolated from the former. b) In addition unidentified genomic changes occurred, c) induced by the A2+3+5+7-chromosome. d) The sex chromosomes A and Y, and the autosomes were involved.

Animals

Courtship behavior and control of reproductive isolation in Drosophila mojavensis: genetic analysis of population hybrids.

Drosophila mojavensis from the Sonora region and Baja California show asymmetrical sexual isolation in the laboratory: males from Sonora mate equally frequently with Sonora and Baja females, while the mating success of Baja males with Sonora females is reduced. This failure has been localized to three separate behavioral landmarks occurring during courtship. Genetic analysis was conducted using reciprocal F1 hybrids of Sonora and Baja strains to examine inheritance patterns of the responsible courtship behaviors. Mating success and propensity of F1 males were similar to Sonora males. F1 females mated with males of Sonora and Baja races equally, although mating propensity of F1 females was intermediate between that of Sonora and Baja females. Males of Baja strains presented with F1 females showed a relatively high level of failure at attempted intromission. Genes for mating behaviors are located in the autosomes, but different loci responsible for the sexual isolation appear to act in males and females.

Animals

Sex pheromones and reproductive isolation of the lesser peachtree borer and the peachtree borer.

(E,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate, and (Z,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate, isolated from the female lesser peachtree borer, Synanthedon pictipes (Grote and Robinson), and the female peachtree borer, Sanninoidea exitiosa (Say), respectively, strongly attract the respective males of these species in field bioassays. These compounds are the largest pheromones isolated thus far from a lepidopterous species. Sanninoidea exitiosa males did not respond to the synthesized (E,Z)-isomer, and low concentrations of it in the synthesized (Z,Z)-isomer did not interfere with their response to the (Z,Z)-isomer. In contrast, even very low concentrations of the (Z,Z)-isomer (1 percent) in the (E,Z)-isomer significantly inhibited the response of Synanthedon pictipes males.

Animals

Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals How Plasticity and Genetic Differentiation Underlie Sympatric Morphs of Arctic Charr.

Salmonids have a remarkable ability to form sympatric morphs after postglacial colonisation of freshwater lakes. These morphs often differ in morphology, feeding and spawning behaviour. Here, we explored the genetic basis of morph differentiation in Arctic charr (n = 283) by first establishing a high-quality reference genome and then using this in whole genome sequencing of distinct morphs present in two Norwegian and two Icelandic lakes. The four lakes represent the spectrum of genetic differentiation between morphs from one lake with no genetic differentiation between morphs, implying phenotypic plasticity, to two lakes with locus-specific genetic differentiation, implying incomplete reproductive isolation, and one lake with strong genome-wide divergence consistent with complete reproductive isolation. As many as 12 putative inversions ranging from 0.45 to 3.25 Mbp in size segregated among the four morphs present in one lake, Thingvallavatn, and these contributed significantly to the genetic differentiation among morphs. None of the putative inversions were found in any of the other lakes, but there were cases of partial haplotype sharing in similar morph contrasts in other lakes. Our findings are consistent with a highly polygenic basis of morph differentiation with population-specific selection on alleles linked to the development of similar morph phenotypes. The results support a model where morph differentiation is first established through phenotypic plasticity, leading to niche expansion and separation. This may be followed by gradual development of reproductive isolation, locus-specific differentiation and eventually complete reproductive isolation and genome-wide divergence.

Whole Genome Sequencing

The genetics of postzygotic isolation in the Drosophila virilis group.

In a genetic study of postzygotic reproductive isolation among species of the Drosophila virilis group, we find that the X chromosome has the largest effect on male and female hybrid sterility and inviability. The X alone has a discernible effect on postzygotic isolation between closely related species. Hybridizations involving more distantly related species also show large X-effects, although the autosomes may also play a role. In the only hybridization yet subjected to such analysis, we show that hybrid male and female sterility result from the action of different X-linked loci. Our results accord with genetic studies of other taxa, and support the view that both Haldane's rule (heterogametic F1 sterility or inviability) and the large effect of the X chromosome on reproductive isolation result from the accumulation by natural selection of partially recessive or underdominant mutations. We also describe a method that allows genetic analysis of reproductive isolation between species that produce completely sterile or inviable hybrids. Such species pairs, which represent the final stage of speciation, cannot be analyzed by traditional methods. The X chromosome also plays an important role in postzygotic isolation between these species.

Animals

A genetic analysis of reproductive barriers in Phacelia dubia.

Investigations into the genetic basis of reproductive barriers among recognized and putative varieties in Phacelia dubia have provided evidence that even among closely related taxa, multiple pathways can lead to reproductive isolation. A nuclear-based reproductive barrier, expressed as partial hybrid sterility of both pollen and ovules, isolated each pair of recognized varieties. There was no evidence of pre- or post-fertilization barriers; all reproductive barriers were manifested as hybrid gametic sterility. Reproductive relationships of two putative varieties were studied to examine the early stages of reproductive isolation in this group. Both putative varieties exhibited partial reproductive isolation from the recognized varieties in spite of their lack of morphological differentiation from recognized varieties. The barrier isolating one putative variety was similar to the barrier among recognized varieties. The second putative variety and a recognized variety were partially isolated by a unidirectional, nuclear-cytoplasmic barrier that reduced only pollen fertility. The nuclear-cytoplasmic barrier suggested a new application of Haldane's rule.

Alleles

Multilocus model of sympatric speciation. III. Computer simulations.

In the previous papers some analytical results were obtained for the limit stages of sympatric speciation. The present paper aims at finding the scope of validity for these results. The Monte Carlo computer model of this process was created and studied. We deal with two aspects of the speciation process: the development of reproductive isolation between the forming species and the extinction of the intermediate individuals. It has been shown that the advantage of the allele of reproductive isolation increases with the growth of its frequency. The extinction of the intermediates goes differently with various numbers of loci involved in speciation. If reproductive isolation is due to differences in two or four loci, then the completion of extinction of the intermediates requires the strongest disruptive selection, so that the necessary conditions for speciation found previously are also proved to be sufficient. But with eight and probably with a larger number of loci, the selection required to promote speciation in a population that is far from it is considerably stronger than selection needed at the last stage of speciation. Consequently, under some intensities of disruptive selection the final state of a population depends initial state. The conditions under which the stationary state of a population is characterized by bimodal distribution of phenotypes are also found.

Alleles

Patterns of Genomic Divergence and Introgression in Two Primulina Hybrid Zones.

Hybrid zones have long been promoted as natural laboratories for understanding the mechanisms of speciation. Multiple or replicated hybrid zones are particularly informative, as they allow for assessing the consistency of genomic divergence and introgression across different environmental contexts and demographic histories, thereby improving our understanding of the factors that drive or hinder speciation on a broader scale. Here, using whole-genome resequencing data, we compare the patterns of genomic divergence and introgression in two Primulina hybrid zones. We found that genomic divergence in both hybrid zones is largely shaped by neutral processes, with only a few genomic regions showing signatures of balancing or lineage-specific selection. Genomic cline analyses identified numerous SNPs that showed significantly steeper clines and biased centres than the genome-wide expectation in both hybrid zones, consistent with the existence of reproductive barriers. Within regions of restricted gene flow, we identified 21 genes shared between the two hybrid zones. Annotation of gene function revealed that several genes are involved in reproductive processes. In addition, many zone-specific outlier loci were linked to genes associated with pollen and flower development, suggesting that these barriers may contribute to reproductive isolation under localised ecological conditions. Overall, these findings suggest that while certain reproductive barriers remain consistent across independent hybrid zones, others may be contingent on local environmental contexts. Our results demonstrate that both general and zone-specific mechanisms contribute to reproductive isolation in Primulina, providing empirical evidence that some genomic barriers recur across independent hybrid zones while others arise through localised adaptation.

Lamiales

Interspecific DNA transformation in Drosophila.

A DNA fragment that includes the wild-type rosy (ry+) gene of Drosophila melanogaster has been introduced by microinjection into the germ line of the reproductively isolated species Drosophila simulans and incorporated into the D. simulans genome. Transformation was mediated by the transposable element P, which occurs in the genome of most natural populations of D. melanogaster but not in D. simulans. Rubin and Spradling [Rubin, G.M. & Spradling, A.C. (1982) Science 218, 348-353] have previously shown that the ry+ DNA fragment, which is flanked by recognition sequences of P element, can transform the germ line of D. melanogaster. Successful transformation in D. simulans indicates that the P element continues to function as a transposable element in the D. simulans genome. Moreover, the ry+ gene of D. melanogaster functions in the genome of D. simulans to produce normal eye color, despite the estimated 1 to 5 million yr of reproductive isolation since the evolutionary divergence of these species. Interspecific DNA transformation provides a useful method for the study of genetic differences affecting gene expression among related but reproductively isolated species.

Animals

Homoploid Hybrid Speciation in a Marine Pelagic Fish.

Homoploid hybrid speciation (HHS) is an enigmatic evolutionary process where new species arise through hybridisation of divergent lineages without changes in chromosome number. Although increasingly documented in various taxa and ecosystems, convincing cases of HHS in marine fishes have been lacking. This study presents a possible case of HHS in a pelagic marine fish based on comprehensive genomic, morphological, and ecological analyses. Population genomics, species tree estimation, and tests of introgression and admixture identified three sympatric clusters in Megalaspis cordyla in the western Pacific and the admixed nature of one cluster between the others. Moreover, model-based demographic inference favoured a hybrid speciation scenario over introgression for the origin of the admixed cluster. While contemporary gene flow suggested partial reproductive isolation, examination of occurrence data and ecologically relevant morphological characters suggested ecological differences between the clusters, potentially contributing to the reproductive isolation and niche partitioning in sympatry. The clusters are also morphologically distinguishable and thus can be taxonomically recognised as separate species. The hybrid cluster is restricted to the coasts of Taiwan and Japan, where all three clusters coexist. The parental clusters are additionally found in lower latitudes, where they display non-overlapping distributions. Given the geographical distributions, estimated times of species formation, and patterns of historical demographic changes, we propose that the Pleistocene glacial cycles were the primary driver of HHS in this system. We also develop an ecogeographic model of HHS in marine coastal ecosystems, including a novel hypothesis to explain the initial stages of HHS.

Animals

Genic heterogeneity within electrophoretic "alleles" and the pattern of variation among loci in Drosophila pseudoobscura.

An investigation, similar to our previously reported xanthine dehydrogenase study, was undertaken to examine the extent of hidden genic variation at nine loci (five larval proteins, three esterases and one aldehyde oxidase) by sequential application of various electrophoretic criteria employing pH, gel concentration and buffer variation. Polymorphic loci appear to fall into two distinct groups: weakly polymorphic, including larval protein 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13 and esterase-1 and -6; and highly polymorphic, including esterase-5, Xdh and possibly Ao. Monomorphic loci may belong to a third group different from all polymorphic loci. Bogota, a geographical isolate that is reproductively isolated from the mainland population, was found to be genetically distinct at four of the ten loci examined in detail so far, including Xdh, whereas previously it was found to be genetically distinct at none. These results are discussed in the light of balancing selection, neutral and mutation-selection hypotheses of genic variation in natural populations.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases