Genetics, Vol. 154, 229-236, January 2000, Copyright © 2000

Sex-ratio Meiotic Drive in Drosophila simulans Is Related to Equational Nondisjunction of the Y Chromosome

Michel Cazemajora, Dominique Jolyb, and Catherine Montchamp-Moreaua,b
a Institut J. Monod, Dynamique du Génome et Evolution, CNRS-Université Paris 7, 75251 Paris Cedex 05, France
b Populations, Génétique et Evolution, CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

Corresponding author: Catherine Montchamp-Moreau, Laboratoire Populations, Génétique et Evolution, CNRS, Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France., montchamp{at}pge.cnrs-gif.fr (E-mail)

Communicating editor: C.-I WU

The sex-ratio trait, an example of naturally occurring X-linked meiotic drive, has been reported in a dozen Drosophila species. Males carrying a sex-ratio X chromosome produce an excess of female offspring caused by a deficiency of Y-bearing sperm. In Drosophila simulans, such males produce ~70–90% female offspring, and 15–30% of the male offspring are sterile. Here, we investigate the cytological basis of the drive in this species. We show that the sex-ratio trait is associated with nondisjunction of Y chromatids in meiosis II. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using sex-chromosome-specific probes provides direct evidence that the drive is caused by the failure of the resulting spermatids to develop into functional sperm. XYY progeny were not observed, indicating that few or no YY spermatids escape failure. The recovery of XO males among the progeny of sex-ratio males shows that some nullo-XY spermatids become functional sperm and likely explains the male sterility. A review of the cytological data in other species shows that aberrant behavior of the Y chromosome may be a common basis of sex-ratio meiotic drive in Drosophila and the signal that triggers differential spermiogenesis failure.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 GeneticsHome page
A. Deredec, A. Burt, and H. C. J. Godfray
The Population Genetics of Using Homing Endonuclease Genes in Vector and Pest Management
Genetics, August 1, 2008; 179(4): 2013 - 2026.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
N. Derome, E. Baudry, D. Ogereau, M. Veuille, and C. Montchamp-Moreau
Selective Sweeps in a 2-Locus Model for Sex-Ratio Meiotic Drive in Drosophila simulans
Mol. Biol. Evol., February 1, 2008; 25(2): 409 - 416.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
C. Montchamp-Moreau, D. Ogereau, N. Chaminade, A. Colard, and S. Aulard
Organization of the sex-ratio Meiotic Drive Region in Drosophila simulans
Genetics, November 1, 2006; 174(3): 1365 - 1371.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
N. Derome, K. Metayer, C. Montchamp-Moreau, and M. Veuille
Signature of Selective Sweep Associated With the Evolution of sex-ratio Drive in Drosophila simulans
Genetics, March 1, 2004; 166(3): 1357 - 1366.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
J. E. Taylor and J. Jaenike
Sperm Competition and the Dynamics of X Chromosome Drive: Stability and Extinction
Genetics, April 1, 2002; 160(4): 1721 - 1731.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
Y. Tao, D. L. Hartl, and C. C. Laurie
Sex-ratio segregation distortion associated with reproductive isolation in Drosophila
PNAS, October 25, 2001; (2001) 231478798.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
Y. Tao, D. L. Hartl, and C. C. Laurie
Sex-ratio segregation distortion associated with reproductive isolation in Drosophila
PNAS, November 6, 2001; 98(23): 13183 - 13188.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant CellHome page
E. N. Hiatt, E. K. Kentner, and R. K. Dawe
Independently Regulated Neocentromere Activity of Two Classes of Tandem Repeat Arrays
PLANT CELL, February 1, 2002; 14(2): 407 - 420.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]