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Evolution of fungal sex chromosomes
Author(s) -
Fraser James A.,
Heitman Joseph
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03874.x
Subject(s) - biology , mating type , genome , genetics , sexual reproduction , locus (genetics) , mating , evolutionary biology , evolution of sexual reproduction , gene
Summary Sexual reproduction enables organisms to shuffle two parental genomes to produce recombinant progeny, and to purge the genome of deleterious mutations. Sex is conserved in virtually all organisms, from bacteria and fungi to plants and animals, and yet the mechanisms by which sexual identity are established share both conserved general features and are remarkably diverse. In animals, sexual identity is established by dimorphic sex chromosomes, whereas in fungi a specialized region of the genome, known as the mating‐type locus, governs the establishment of cell type identity and differs in DNA sequence between cells of different mating‐types. Recent studies on the mating‐type loci of fungi and algae reveal features shared with the mammalian X and Y chromosomes, suggesting that these represent early steps in the evolution of sex chromosomes.