Click, Arielle, Savaliya, Chandni H, Kienle, Simone, Herrmann, Matthias and Pires-da Silva, André Francisco (2009) Natural variation of outcrossing in the hermaphroditic nematode Pristionchus pacificus. BMC Evolutionary Biology, Volume 9 (Number 1). Article no.75. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-9-75

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Abstract

Background:
Evolution of selfing can be associated with an increase in fixation of deleterious mutations, which in certain conditions can lead to species extinction. In nematodes, a few species evolved self-fertilization independently, making them excellent model systems to study the evolutionary consequences of this type of mating system.
Results:
Here we determine various parameters that influence outcrossing in the hermaphroditic nematode Pristionchus pacificus and compare them to the better known Caenorhabditis elegans. These nematode species are distinct in terms of genetic diversity, which could be explained by differences in outcrossing rates. We find that, similarly to C. elegans, P. pacificus males are generated at low frequencies from self-fertilizing hermaphrodites and are relatively poor mating partners. Furthermore, crosses between different isolates reveal that hybrids have lower brood sizes than the pure strains, which is a sign of outbreeding depression. In contrast to C. elegans, P. pacificus has lower brood sizes and the male X-bearing sperm is able to outcompete the X-nullo sperm.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that there is no evidence of any selection acting very strongly on P. pacificus males.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- )
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Nematodes, Nematodes -- Evolution, Nematodes -- Research, Nematodes -- Genetics
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Evolutionary Biology
Publisher:	Bio Med Central
ISSN:	1471-2148
Official Date:	2009
Dates:	Date Event 2009 Published
Volume:	Volume 9
Number:	Number 1
Page Range:	Article no.75
DOI:	10.1186/1471-2148-9-75
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF), University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Grant number:	IOB-0615996 (NSF)

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