Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/18266
Title: Selection against Heteroplasmy Explains the Evolution of Uniparental Inheritance of Mitochondria
Contributor(s): Christie, Joshua R (author); Schaerf, Timothy  (author)orcid ; Beekman, Madeleine (author)
Publication Date: 2015
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005112Open Access Link
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/18266
Abstract: Why are mitochondria almost always inherited from one parent during sexual reproduction? Current explanations for this evolutionary mystery include conflict avoidance between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, clearing of deleterious mutations, and optimization of mitochondrial-nuclear coadaptation. Mathematical models, however, fail to show that uniparental inheritance can replace biparental inheritance under any existing hypothesis. Recent empirical evidence indicates that mixing two different but normal mitochondrial haplotypes within a cell (heteroplasmy) can cause cell and organism dysfunction. Using a mathematical model, we test if selection against heteroplasmy can lead to the evolution of uniparental inheritance. When we assume selection against heteroplasmy and mutations are neither advantageous nor deleterious (neutral mutations), uniparental inheritance replaces biparental inheritance for all tested parameter values. When heteroplasmy involves mutations that are advantageous or deleterious (non-neutral mutations), uniparental inheritance can still replace biparental inheritance. We show that uniparental inheritance can evolve with or without pre-existing mating types. Finally, we show that selection against heteroplasmy can explain why some organisms deviate from strict uniparental inheritance. Thus, we suggest that selection against heteroplasmy explains the evolution of uniparental inheritance.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Grant Details: ARC/DP140100560
Source of Publication: PLoS Genetics, 11(4), p. 1-30
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 1553-7404
1553-7390
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 010202 Biological Mathematics
060411 Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 490102 Biological mathematics
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences
970101 Expanding Knowledge in the Mathematical Sciences
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 280118 Expanding knowledge in the mathematical sciences
280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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