The impact of founder events on chromosomal variability in multiply mating species
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
In species with heterogametic males, the relative levels of X chromosome versus autosome diversity hold key information about the evolutionary forces at work in a population. It has been shown that population size changes alter the ratio of X linked to autosomal (X/A) variation, with population size reductions and recent bottlenecks leading to decreased X/A diversity ratios. Here we use theory and simulation to investigate a separate demographic effect-that of founder events involving multiply mated females-and find that it leads to much stronger reductions in X/A diversity ratios than are produced by simple population size changes. Investigating the potential of this process to account for sharply reduced X-linked diversity in European Drosophila melanogaster, we find that this model yields predictions that are compatible with the empirical data.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Molecular Biology and Evolution |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 8 |
Pages (from-to) | 1728-36 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 0737-4038 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Animals; Chromosomes; Computer Simulation; Drosophila melanogaster; Female; Founder Effect; Genes, X-Linked; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Models, Genetic; Sexual Behavior, Animal
ID: 9856332