Obligate chimerism in male yellow crazy ants

Science. 2023 Apr 7;380(6640):55-58. doi: 10.1126/science.adf0419. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Abstract

Multicellular organisms typically develop from a single fertilized egg and therefore consist of clonal cells. We report an extraordinary reproductive system in the yellow crazy ant. Males are chimeras of haploid cells from two divergent lineages: R and W. R cells are overrepresented in the males' somatic tissues, whereas W cells are overrepresented in their sperm. Chimerism occurs when parental nuclei bypass syngamy and divide separately within the same egg. When syngamy takes place, the diploid offspring either develops into a queen when the oocyte is fertilized by an R sperm or into a worker when fertilized by a W sperm. This study reveals a mode of reproduction that may be associated with a conflict between lineages to preferentially enter the germ line.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ants* / cytology
  • Ants* / genetics
  • Ants* / growth & development
  • Chimerism*
  • Diploidy
  • Germ Cells / cytology
  • Male
  • Reproduction*
  • Semen / cytology