Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Toshihisa Yashiro, Yi-Kai Tea, Cara Van der Wal, Tomonari Nozaki, Nobuaki Mizumoto, Simon Hellemans, Kenji Matsuura, Nathan Lo
Summary: The study found that in some animals, males play important roles beyond providing gametes, which may prevent the evolution of obligate asexuality. Male termites promote genetic heterozygosity within populations through sex-linked chromosomes, while some asexual termite populations, generated through intraspecific hybridization, exhibit higher heterozygosity compared to sexual populations and have replaced them in some areas.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jun Kitano, Kohta Yoshida
Summary: This article discusses the importance of intrinsic hybrid incompatibility as a barrier between species, especially in organisms with sex chromosomes. It explains two rules, Haldane's rule and large-X effects, that contribute to intrinsic hybrid incompatibility. The hypothesis suggests that sex chromosomes serve as hotspots for meiotic drivers that cause this incompatibility. Although empirical data supports this hypothesis, further research is needed to understand the occurrence of these mechanisms in nature, particularly in relation to speciation with gene flow.
CURRENT OPINION IN GENETICS & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Xiaolong Fang, Yanyan Sun, Jinhong Li, Meina Li, Chunbao Zhang
Summary: Hybrid breeding is important for meeting the challenge of feeding a growing world population with limited agricultural land. There have been significant advancements in soybean genome and genetic studies, but commercialization of hybrid soybean is still in progress. This review summarizes recent progress in male sterility-based breeding programs and the current status of hybrid soybean breeding. Efforts have been made to identify male-sterile lines in soybean and over 40 hybrid soybean varieties have been developed. Increasing the out-crossing rate in an economical way is crucial for accelerating hybrid soybean breeding.
MOLECULAR BREEDING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cecile Courret, David Ogereau, Clement Gilbert, Amanda M. Larracuente, Catherine Montchamp-Moreau
Summary: The recent evolution of the Y chromosome in Drosophila simulans is closely linked to X-linked meiotic drivers. The spread of the drivers has led to the selection of drive-resistant Y chromosomes. Through sequencing, it has been found that sensitive Y chromosomes, despite their different origins, are highly similar, suggesting a recent common ancestor. Resistant Y chromosomes are more divergent and segregate into four distinct clusters.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiri Forejt, Petr Jansa
Summary: Hybrid sterility is an early reproductive isolation mechanism in sexually reproducing species, preventing gene flow and leading to speciation. Increasing DNA divergence between closely related species may impair homologous chromosome recognition and disrupt synapsis, resulting in early meiotic arrest or aneuploidy. Impaired recognition of homologs acts as a universal chromosomal checkpoint in hybrid sterility, and examples such as the Prdm9 gene in mice and mismatch repair machinery in yeast demonstrate chromosomal homology search-based hybrid sterility. Further investigation of meiosis at the cellular and molecular level is needed to validate the role of homolog recognition in hybrid sterility and speciation.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Carl Mackintosh, Andrew Pomiankowski, Michael F. Scott
Summary: X-linked meiotic drivers can lead to an imbalance in sex ratios by producing an excess of X-bearing sperm in male carriers. The spread and fixation of X-linked alleles depend on sex-specific selection and transmission, rather than time spent in each sex. These drivers can enhance population size and persistence by increasing productivity, but can also lead to population extinction if the sex ratio becomes too skewed.
Article
Biology
Sasha L. Bradshaw, Lara Meade, Jessica Tarlton-Weatherall, Andrew Pomiankowski
Summary: This study examined the sex ratio X-linked meiotic drive system in stalk-eyed flies and found that the testes of drive males were enlarged at eclosion, contrary to previous predictions, and there was no evidence that this affected the growth of the accessory glands. Furthermore, further experiments are proposed to investigate the effects of copulation and nutritional stress on the size of the accessory glands.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonna Heldrich, Carolyn R. Milano, Tovah E. Markowitz, Sarah N. Ur, Luis A. Vale-Silva, Kevin D. Corbett, Andreas Hochwagen
Summary: Successful meiotic recombination requires conserved axis proteins, which distribute on chromosomes through two independent pathways: a cohesin-dependent pathway and a cohesin-independent pathway. These pathways result in a stereotypic distribution pattern and the formation of chromatin islands that influence chromosome structure.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Kevin C. Olsen, Thiago G. Lima, Felipe S. Barreto, Ronald S. Burton
Summary: Hybrid male sterility (HMS) is a common form of reproductive isolation, especially in heterogametic XY males. This study investigates the genomic architecture of HMS in Tigriopus californicus, a species without sex chromosomes. The results show that genomic regions associated with HMS concentrate on a single chromosome, and annotations related to spermatogenesis are the most overrepresented within the implicated region.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sarah Collinson, Esnath Hamdziripi, Hugo De Groote, Michael Ndegwa, Jill E. Cairns, Marc Albertsen, Dickson Ligeyo, Kingstone Mashingaidze, Michael S. Olsen
Summary: This article describes a hybrid seed production technology that improves maize yield in African smallholder farming conditions. By removing the need for detasseling, this technology increases the efficiency and integrity of seed production, resulting in higher maize yield. This is beneficial for both seed companies and farmers, and important for improving smallholder farmer access to higher quality seed.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xiaolong Fang, Xiangchi Feng, Xiaoyuan Sun, Xiangdong Yang, Qing Li, Xulei Yang, Jie Xu, Minghui Zhou, Chunjing Lin, Yi Sui, Limei Zhao, Baohui Liu, Fanjiang Kong, Chunbao Zhang, Meina Li
Summary: The cloning and characterization of the MS2 gene in soybean, which specifically expresses a protein in the anther, is reported. The MS2 gene functions in the tapetum and microspore by directly regulating genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis and lipid metabolism, essential for microspore cell wall formation. A field comparison with other widely used male sterile mutants in the same genetic background demonstrated that the ms2 mutant performs the best in outcrossing rate, making it an ideal tool for building cost-effective hybrid soybean systems.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Lanying Yang, Xuefeng Zhang, Shujun Liu, Chenhua Zhao, Yiyang Miao, Li Jin, Deshou Wang, Linyan Zhou
Summary: In teleost fish, the gene Cyp17a1 plays a crucial role in steroidogenesis, sex determination, and fertility. Mutations in the cyp17a1 gene in Nile tilapia led to female-to-male sex reversal and deficiencies in hormone production, impacting both the sex determination and reproductive processes in fish. Overall, Cyp17a1 is found to be essential for E2 production in female sex determination and differentiation, as well as for T and 11-KT production in promoting spermatogenesis and fertility in male fish.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jing Wang, Weiguo He, Wen Wang, Ziye Luo, Linmei Han, Caixia Xiang, Mingli Chai, Tangluo Li, Jihong Li, Kaikun Luo, Rurong Zhao, Shaojun Liu
Summary: Hybridization is an effective strategy to alter the genotypes and phenotypes of offspring, and distant hybridization is a useful method to generate polyploids in fish. In this study, goldfish and Bleeker's yellow tail were crossed, and successful hybrid offspring with different chromosome numbers were obtained. The study also revealed differences in genetic characteristics and gonad development between the hybrids and their parents.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manjit Singh, Marc C. Albertsen, A. Mark Cigan
Summary: This review discusses the progress in characterization of nuclear genetic male sterility (NGMS) in wheat and its advantages in hybrid wheat varieties, compared to chemical hybridizing agents (CHAs) and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Four wheat genes, such as Ms1, Ms5, TaMs26 and TaMs45, have been characterized for their contribution to male fertility, with potential for commercial-scale hybrid seed production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Adil Abbas, Ping Yu, Lianping Sun, Zhengfu Yang, Daibo Chen, Shihua Cheng, Liyong Cao
Summary: Male sterility is essential for specific propagation of rice to meet food demands. Genomic studies have provided insights into the mechanisms regulating male sterility in rice, advancing the understanding of anther and pollen development. Recent advances in genomics and biotechnology have revolutionized rice breeding, offering new possibilities for improving crop production.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
