Half a Genome is Better than None: The Evolution of Haplodiploidy in Mites

半个基因组总比没有好：螨类单倍体的进化。我们的正常经验是，男性和女性差不多一样普遍。我们还期望男女各从父母那里得到一半的基因。然而，在许多成功的动物群体中，这些正常的期望并没有得到满足：雄性很少，只有雌性的一半染色体（单倍体），或者根本不存在。我们将研究一群螨的单倍体和全雌性遗传系统的多个起源，其中包括许多有用的生物防治剂和重要的寄生虫。本研究在控制害虫繁殖方面具有纯科学价值和潜在的实用价值。

Half a Genome is Better than None: The Evolution of Haplodiploidy in Mites. It is our normal experience that males and females are about equally common. We also expect both sexes to receive half their genes from each parent. In many successful animal groups, however, these normal expectations are not met: males are rare and have only half as many chromosomes as females (haplodiploidy) or are non-existent. We will investigate multiple origins of haplodiploid and all-female genetic systems in a group of mites that includes many useful biocontrol agents and important parasites. The implications of this research have both pure scientific merit and potential practical value in controlling the reproduction of pests.