The evolutionary dynamics of male-killers and their hosts

Article Abstract:

Evolutionary dynamics of male-killing bacteria and their hosts are discussed with the goal of explaining observations of multiple male-killers in natural host populations with long-term evolutionary dynamics considered. Each male-killer polymorphism is shown not to be explained by a classical model of male-killing. More complicated models that take in the evolution of resistance in hosts are shown to explain male-killer polymorphism where resistance genes are very costly. Evolution toward more and more efficient male killers can be held back by appearance of host resistance. A resistance gene may allow a less efficient male-killer to outcompete a rival and to reverse the trend toward more efficient transmission and lower metabolic host load. Male-killers tend to be in Spiroplasma, Rickettsia and Wolbachia.

Bacteria, Morphology (Biology), Host-bacteria relationships, Population genetics, Sex ratio

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The evolution of gene number: are heritable and non-heritable errors equally important?

Article Abstract:

The evolution of gene number and whether or not heritable and nonheritable errors are equally important are discussed. A hybrid model is likely to be the most accurate, and it would be one that evokes heritable expression errors. Empirical evidence shows that duplication itself tends to give expression errors that may be heritable. The rate of nonheritable errors might be very high, yet not show that the errors are more important than mutations. Impact must be discounted by strength of effects.

Hungary, DNA, Chromosome replication, Genetic disorders

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The genetic basis of host plant adaptation in the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens)

Article Abstract:

The genetic architecture of host plant adaptation in two populations of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, is discussed relative to a presumed host shift. One eats cultivated rice, one eats a weed grass, and most performance differences among populations seem to be controlled by a few genes with dominance of rice population alleles over the other population's alleles was strong. Evidence of epistatic interaction exists.

Statistical Data Included, Genetic aspects, Plant-pathogen relationships, Insects, Origin of species, Hybridization

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