Muller's ratchet and the degeneration of Y chromosomes: a simulation study

Genetics. 2008 Oct;180(2):957-67. doi: 10.1534/genetics.108.092379. Epub 2008 Sep 9.

Abstract

A typical pattern in sex chromosome evolution is that Y chromosomes are small and have lost many of their genes. One mechanism that might explain the degeneration of Y chromosomes is Muller's ratchet, the perpetual stochastic loss of linkage groups carrying the fewest number of deleterious mutations. This process has been investigated theoretically mainly for asexual, haploid populations. Here, I construct a model of a sexual population where deleterious mutations arise on both X and Y chromosomes. Simulation results of this model demonstrate that mutations on the X chromosome can considerably slow down the ratchet. On the other hand, a lower mutation rate in females than in males, background selection, and the emergence of dosage compensation are expected to accelerate the process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dosage Compensation, Genetic
  • Female
  • Haploidy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Genetic
  • Mutation*
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Reproduction, Asexual / genetics
  • Selection, Genetic
  • X Chromosome
  • Y Chromosome / genetics*