Antagonistic Genes

9307735最近的理论预测，由于两性选择的对立，某些形式的遗传病可能会在人类和其他动物中积累。染色体(遗传信息的物理单位)上发生这种相反选择的位置称为性别拮抗基因。同一物种的雄性和雌性在表面上非常相似，但当仔细观察时，它们在许多方面都不同。在非常广泛的意义上，自然选择将两性设计为做不同的事情：雄性产生和传播小配子(精子)，雌性产生大配子(卵子)，并经常养育后代。男性和女性的最佳表型(即一个有机体所有特征的总和)在性别之间往往可能不同，导致每个性别的适应能力因另一个性别的反选择而受到损害。我实验室最近的实验表明，特定性别的选择会导致一场重大的基因“拉锯战”。性别之间的差异可能会导致遗传性疾病的积累，从而产生性别特有的功能障碍。%提议的实验使用果蝇(普通果蝇)模型系统来证实和扩展这些早期的发现。果蝇之所以被使用，是因为它们在基因上是如此广为人知，而且纯粹是出于实用的原因(廉价的培养，较短的世代时间等)。整个单倍型(个人携带的遗传物质的一半)将在50代中父子遗传。这项协议取消了对女性的特定选择。在实验过程中，单倍型将周期性地出现在男性和女性身上，并对每个性别的一生健康状况进行分析。如果性别选择是导致遗传病的主要因素，那么这些单倍型将大大提高男性的健康水平，同时降低女性的健康水平。

9307735 Recent theory predicts that some forms of hereditary disease may accumulate in humans and other animals due to opposing selection in the two sexes. Positions on chromosomes (the physical units of hereditary information) where such opposing selection occurs are called sexually antagonistic genes. Males and females of the same species are superficially very similar, yet when examined more carefully they differ in many ways. In a very broad sense, the sexes are designed by natural selection to do different things: males to produce and disseminate microgametes (sperm) and females to produce macrogametes (eggs) and frequently nurture their offspring. The optimal phenotype (i.e. the sum of all characteristics of an organism) for males and females frequently may differ between the sexes leading to adaptation in each sex being compromised via counter selection in the other sex. Recent experiments in my laboratory indicate that sex specific selection leads to a major genetic "tug of war". between the sexes potentially resulting in the build upon of hereditary diseases that produce sex specific dysfunction. %%% The proposed experiments use a Drosophila melanogaster (common fruit fly) model system to confirm and extend these earlier findings. Fruit flies are used because they are so well known genetically and for purely pragmatic reasons (inexpensive culturing, short generation time, etc.). Entire haplotype (one half of the hereditary material carried by an individual) will be transmitted father to son for 50 generations. This protocol eliminates female specific selection. Periodically over the course of the experiment the haplotype will be place in both males and females and each sex's life time fitness will be assayed. If sex specific selection is a major contributor to hereditary disease then these haplotype will substantially increase the fitness in males while reducing the fitness of females.