The researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have made progress in understanding why animals evolve sex chromosomes by studying fruit flies.
Sex chromosomes determine an individual’s sex and have posed a puzzle for evolutionary biologists due to their evolution.
One potential reason for the evolution of sex chromosomes is to reduce sexual conflict, where certain traits are beneficial for one sex but harmful for the other.
By studying Drosophila fruit flies with newly formed neo-sex chromosomes, the team found that genes on these chromosomes tend to evolve into sex-biased genes which give sex-specific features.
The study showed that sex-biased genes on neo-sex chromosomes in fruit flies, particularly at the larval stage, are associated with metabolism and impact size differences between sexes, supporting the theory that sex chromosomes evolve to reduce sexual conflict.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have made significant progress in understanding why animals evolve sex chromosomes. Through their study using fruit flies, they have found that genes on newly formed neo-sex chromosomes tend to evolve into “sex-biased genes” that lead to sex-specific traits. This sheds light on the evolution of sex chromosomes and how they may help reduce “sexual conflict,” where certain traits are beneficial to one sex but detrimental to the other.
Sex chromosomes, which determine the sex of individual animals, have long been a topic of interest for evolutionary biologists. The team’s research on fruit flies with neo-sex chromosomes revealed that the evolution of sex-biased genes on these chromosomes is associated with metabolism and impacts larval stage phenotypes, ultimately influencing adult traits. These findings provide support for the theory that sex chromosomes evolve to reduce sexual conflict by imparting certain beneficial traits to each sex. Further research is being conducted to better understand the role of sexual conflict in evolutionary biology.
The study, supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Tokyo Metropolitan University, has contributed important insights into the evolution of sex chromosomes and their impact on reducing sexual conflict. By studying fruit flies with newly formed sex chromosomes, researchers have revealed the role of sex-biased genes in shaping sex-specific traits. This research opens up new avenues for exploring the mechanisms behind the evolution of sex chromosomes and their contribution to the diversity of animal species.
