Gonad morphogenesis defects drive hybrid male sterility in asymmetric hybrid breakdown of Caenorhabditis nematodes

• DOI: 10.1111/ede.12097
• Publication Date: 2014-09-08T08:14:31Z
• Authors: Alivia Dey; Qi Jin; Yen‐Chu Chen; Asher D. Cutter
• Keywords: Caenorhabditis

SUMMARY Determining the causes and evolution of reproductive barriers to gene flow between populations, speciation, is key understanding origin diversity in nature. Many species manifest hybrid breakdown when they intercross, characterized by increasingly exacerbated problems later generations hybrids. Recently, Caenorhabditis nematodes have emerged as a genetic model for studying here we investigate nature remanei C . latens We quantify partial F 1 inviability extensive 2 inviability; ∼75% embryonic arrest occurs primarily during gastrulation or elongation. Moreover, males exhibit Haldane's rule asymmetrically both sterility inviability, being strongest C. serves maternal parent. show that mechanism which sterile are incapable transferring sperm copulatory plug involves defective gonad morphogenesis, hypothesize results from linker cell defects migration and/or death development. This first documented case male follows expectations Darwin's corollary asymmetric fitness, providing powerful foundation molecular dissection intrinsic divergence pathways controlling organ morphogenesis.