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Adaptation shapes patterns of genome evolution on sexual and asexual chromosomes in Drosophila

Nature Genetics volume 34, pages 215–219 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

What advantage might sexual recombination confer? Population genetics theory predicts that asexual genomes are less efficient at eliminating deleterious mutations and incorporating beneficial alleles1,2. Here, I compare patterns of genome evolution in a 40-kb gene-rich region on homologous neo-sex chromosomes of Drosophila miranda3. Genes on the non-recombining neo-Y show various signs of degeneration, including transposable-element insertions, frameshift mutations and a higher rate of amino-acid substitution. In contrast, loci on the recombining neo-X show intact open reading frames and generally low rates of amino-acid substitution. One exceptional gene on the neo-X shows evidence for adaptive protein evolution, affecting patterns of variability at neighboring regions along the chromosome. These findings illustrate the limits to natural selection in an asexual genome. Deleterious mutations, including repetitive DNA, accumulate on a non-recombining chromosome, whereas rapid protein evolution due to positive selection is confined to the recombining homolog.

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Figure 1: Adaptation and degeneration on the neo-sex chromosomes.
Figure 2: Illustration of amino-acid and insertion-deletion changes in the neo-X- and neo-Y-linked genes.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful to P. Andolfatto, B. Charlesworth and S. Wright for discussion and comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by a European Molecular Biology Organisation postdoctoral fellowship and a Royal Society research grant.

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  1. Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK

    Doris Bachtrog

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Bachtrog, D. Adaptation shapes patterns of genome evolution on sexual and asexual chromosomes in Drosophila. Nat Genet 34, 215–219 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng1164

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