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The evolution of sex ratios and sex-determining systems

Uller, Tobias LU ; Pen, Ido ; Wapstra, Erik ; Beukeboom, Leo and Komdeur, Jan (2007) In Trends in Ecology & Evolution 22(6). p.292-297
Abstract
Sex determination is a fundamental process governed by diverse mechanisms. Sex ratio selection is commonly implicated in the evolution of sex-determining systems, although formal models are rare. Here, we argue that, although sex ratio selection can induce shifts in sex determination, genomic conflicts between parents and offspring can explain why single-factor systems (e.g. XY/XX or ZW/ZZ) are common even in species that experience selection for biased sex ratios. Importantly, evolutionary shifts in sex determination do not always result in the biased production of sons and daughters sensu sex ratio theory. Thus, equal sex ratios might be an emergent character of sex-determining systems even when biased sex ratios are favored by selection.
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author
; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
volume
22
issue
6
pages
292 - 297
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:34248371680
ISSN
1872-8383
DOI
10.1016/j.tree.2007.03.008
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
3d1c1f6d-77fe-4387-9cbd-605fb1a3dedd (old id 4731504)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:15:59
date last changed
2022-04-13 08:38:38
@article{3d1c1f6d-77fe-4387-9cbd-605fb1a3dedd,
  abstract     = {{Sex determination is a fundamental process governed by diverse mechanisms. Sex ratio selection is commonly implicated in the evolution of sex-determining systems, although formal models are rare. Here, we argue that, although sex ratio selection can induce shifts in sex determination, genomic conflicts between parents and offspring can explain why single-factor systems (e.g. XY/XX or ZW/ZZ) are common even in species that experience selection for biased sex ratios. Importantly, evolutionary shifts in sex determination do not always result in the biased production of sons and daughters sensu sex ratio theory. Thus, equal sex ratios might be an emergent character of sex-determining systems even when biased sex ratios are favored by selection.}},
  author       = {{Uller, Tobias and Pen, Ido and Wapstra, Erik and Beukeboom, Leo and Komdeur, Jan}},
  issn         = {{1872-8383}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{292--297}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Trends in Ecology & Evolution}},
  title        = {{The evolution of sex ratios and sex-determining systems}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2007.03.008}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.tree.2007.03.008}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}