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Local dynamics of a fast‐evolving sex‐ratio system in D rosophila simulans
Author(s) -
Bastide Héloïse,
Gérard Pierre R.,
Ogereau David,
Cazemajor Michel,
MontchampMoreau Catherine
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/mec.12492
Subject(s) - meiotic drive , biology , evolutionary dynamics , evolutionary biology , haplotype , chromosome , dynamics (music) , genetics , race (biology) , y chromosome , population , gene , demography , genotype , physics , paleontology , sociology , acoustics
Abstract By distorting M endelian transmission to their own advantage, X ‐linked meiotic drive elements can rapidly spread in natural populations, generating a sex‐ratio bias. One expected consequence is the triggering of a co‐evolutionary arms race between the sex chromosome that carries the distorter and suppressors counteracting its effect. Such an arms race has been theoretically and experimentally established and can have many evolutionary consequences. However, its dynamics in contemporary populations is still poorly documented. Here, we investigate the fate of the young X ‐linked P aris driver in D rosophila simulans from sub‐ S aharan A frica to the M iddle E ast. We provide the first example of the early dynamics of distorters and suppressors: we find consistent evidence that the driving chromosomes have been rising in the M iddle E ast during the last decade. In addition, identical haplotypes are at high frequencies around the two co‐evolving drive loci in remote populations, implying that the driving X chromosomes share a recent common ancestor and suggesting that E ast A frica could be the cradle of the P aris driver. The segmental duplication associated with drive presents an unusual structure in W est A frica, which could reflect a secondary state of the driver. Together with our previous demonstration of driver decline in the I ndian O cean where suppression is complete, these data provide a unique picture of the complex dynamics of a co‐evolutionary arms race currently taking place in natural populations of D . simulans .