In a normal population, we assume the allele A could mutate into allele a, which is a typical speciation gene (bring the direct reproduction isolation), thus the hybrid of Aa will be death or underdominance in reproduction. And how is the allele aa fixed in a new population/species, like typical speciation genes, such as, PRMD9, Odysseus (Ods) locus?
Hello Meng-Huan; There are probably many ways that reproductively significant alleles get fixed in a population. Here are a couple of examples.
a. The cerambycid beetle genus Megacylene has several pairs of species that differ only in the season of emergence. The timing of emergence is genetically controlled and represents an effective reproductive isolating mechanism. That is, the spring emerging adults never encounter the fall-emerging ones. Thus two species arise directly out of one.
b. There are many examples of sympatric speciation in plants. Spontaneous changes in ploidy number often produce two versions of a plant (eg. 2N = 24 and 4N = 48) whose haploid numbers create sterile or inviable hybrids. Some species of buckwheat, Eriogonum, are like that. This probably shouldn't be considered a single allelic mechanism, but you get the idea. Best regards, Jim Des Lauriers
James Des Lauriers Hi, Prof Lauriers. I think I know the point you hold and your answer is classical. What I want to know is a process of fixing a gene, which can directly bring hybrid sterility, in a normal species/population. Your answer is also helpful. Thanks for your answer. All the bests, Meng-Huan.
Hello Meng-Huan; I don't have examples at hand for what you have in mind. Do the familiar examples of hybrid-sterility provide any clues? Cheers, Jim Des Lauriers
James Des Lauriers Hi, Prof Lauriers. Several cases were here, like locus Odysseus (Ods) with DOI: 10.1126/science.282.5393.1501, and gene PRMD9 with DOI: 10.1126/science.1163601
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