The origin, genomics and evolution of female-limited polymorphisms
Svensson, Erik I. LU
; Falk, Jay Jinsing
; Iversen, Lars
; Lavanchy, Guillaume
LU
; Roberts, Natalie S.
LU
; Tunström, Kalle
LU
and Lancaster, Lesley T.
LU
(2026)
In Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
381(1952).
- Abstract
Abstract – There is a growing interest in the genomic and developmental basis of discrete or multimodal phenotypes governed by genetic polymorphisms. Recent research has uncovered the genomic basis of such polymorphisms and their maintenance through balancing selection such as negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS). Such polymorphisms often originate through structural genomic changes or through mutations in regulatory genes. Historically, researchers focused on male-limited polymorphisms and intrasexual competition as drivers of NFDS. However, an increasing number of female-limited polymorphisms are being discovered, with sexual conflict, social selection or natural selection maintaining such polymorphisms. Still, significant... (More)
Abstract – There is a growing interest in the genomic and developmental basis of discrete or multimodal phenotypes governed by genetic polymorphisms. Recent research has uncovered the genomic basis of such polymorphisms and their maintenance through balancing selection such as negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS). Such polymorphisms often originate through structural genomic changes or through mutations in regulatory genes. Historically, researchers focused on male-limited polymorphisms and intrasexual competition as drivers of NFDS. However, an increasing number of female-limited polymorphisms are being discovered, with sexual conflict, social selection or natural selection maintaining such polymorphisms. Still, significant gaps in our understanding of female-limited polymorphisms linger, partly as a historical legacy of a male-centric research focus on conspicuous male phenotypes. We review and synthesize female-limited polymorphisms, their maintenance, genetic architecture, genomic basis, developmental origin, microevolutionary dynamics and macroevolutionary diversification. Animals with female-limited polymorphisms include invertebrates (e.g. bedbugs, butterflies, damselflies and fruit flies) but also vertebrates (e.g. birds, mammals and reptiles). By highlighting female-limited polymorphisms, we draw attention to the unique sex-specific selection pressures on females distinguishing them from male-limited polymorphisms. Finally, wee present a conceptual model aimed to explain the origin and evolution of female-limited polymorphisms and outline future research avenues in this emerging field. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Exploring negative frequency dependent selection across levels: from genetics to ecology and back again’.
(Less)
- author
- Svensson, Erik I.
LU
; Falk, Jay Jinsing
; Iversen, Lars
; Lavanchy, Guillaume
LU
; Roberts, Natalie S.
LU
; Tunström, Kalle
LU
and Lancaster, Lesley T.
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06-11
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- balancing selection, Batesian mimicry, chromosomal inversions, colour polymorphisms, frequency-dependent selection, intersexual mimicry, recombination suppression, sex differentiation, sexual conflict, supergenes
- in
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
- volume
- 381
- issue
- 1952
- article number
- 20250175
- publisher
- Royal Society Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105042212382
- pmid:42272386
- ISSN
- 0962-8436
- DOI
- 10.1098/rstb.2025.0175
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors.
- id
- 77cbb237-7c55-447f-87aa-0bff8e2ff2b5
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-25 15:42:40
- date last changed
- 2026-08-31 09:49:21
@article{77cbb237-7c55-447f-87aa-0bff8e2ff2b5,
abstract = {{<p>Abstract – There is a growing interest in the genomic and developmental basis of discrete or multimodal phenotypes governed by genetic polymorphisms. Recent research has uncovered the genomic basis of such polymorphisms and their maintenance through balancing selection such as negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS). Such polymorphisms often originate through structural genomic changes or through mutations in regulatory genes. Historically, researchers focused on male-limited polymorphisms and intrasexual competition as drivers of NFDS. However, an increasing number of female-limited polymorphisms are being discovered, with sexual conflict, social selection or natural selection maintaining such polymorphisms. Still, significant gaps in our understanding of female-limited polymorphisms linger, partly as a historical legacy of a male-centric research focus on conspicuous male phenotypes. We review and synthesize female-limited polymorphisms, their maintenance, genetic architecture, genomic basis, developmental origin, microevolutionary dynamics and macroevolutionary diversification. Animals with female-limited polymorphisms include invertebrates (e.g. bedbugs, butterflies, damselflies and fruit flies) but also vertebrates (e.g. birds, mammals and reptiles). By highlighting female-limited polymorphisms, we draw attention to the unique sex-specific selection pressures on females distinguishing them from male-limited polymorphisms. Finally, wee present a conceptual model aimed to explain the origin and evolution of female-limited polymorphisms and outline future research avenues in this emerging field. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Exploring negative frequency dependent selection across levels: from genetics to ecology and back again’.</p>}},
author = {{Svensson, Erik I. and Falk, Jay Jinsing and Iversen, Lars and Lavanchy, Guillaume and Roberts, Natalie S. and Tunström, Kalle and Lancaster, Lesley T.}},
issn = {{0962-8436}},
keywords = {{balancing selection; Batesian mimicry; chromosomal inversions; colour polymorphisms; frequency-dependent selection; intersexual mimicry; recombination suppression; sex differentiation; sexual conflict; supergenes}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
number = {{1952}},
publisher = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
series = {{Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences}},
title = {{The origin, genomics and evolution of female-limited polymorphisms}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2025.0175}},
doi = {{10.1098/rstb.2025.0175}},
volume = {{381}},
year = {{2026}},
}