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Sexual conflict via maternal-effect genes in ZW species
Paige M Miller1, Sergey Gavrilets, William R Rice
1Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. pmiller@lifesci.ucsb.edu
Abstract:
In female heterogamous (ZW) species, sex-linked genes coding for maternal products that are packaged into the egg open a unique arena for genetic conflict that does not occur in male heterogamous (XY) species. Z-linked maternal-effect alleles that help sons and harm daughters are expected to go to fixation, as are W-linked alleles that help daughters and harm sons. This conflict differs from known cases of meiotic drive, because sex-specific ontogeny, physiology, and gene expression greatly simplify the genetic interactions that lead to sexual conflict. Selection on maternal-effect genes may substantially alter the evolution of ZW compared with XY systems.
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