Autosomally-encoded segregation distortion of sex chromosomes
Data files
Jul 23, 2025 version files 5.51 MB
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data_archive.zip
5.51 MB
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README.md
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Abstract
Some selfish genetic elements drive at meiosis to achieve transmission distortion, breaking the rules of Mendelian segregation to enhance their evolutionary success. It has been shown that enhancers of drive must act in cis in order to gain the selfish benefit of drive, and that suppressors of drive will be selected at unlinked loci. Here, we model the evolution of an autosomal trans-acting gene (Distorter) that causes the Y-chromosome (or even 0-chromosome) to drive without driving itself, a phenomenon we call “remote-control meiotic drive”. We show that such a gene may spread in the population when linked to a second locus, Assister, whose alleles are transmitted at different frequencies through sperm as compared to eggs, for which we consider various scenarios, e.g., sexually antagonistic selection or sex-limited drive. Depending on the mechanistic details of sex-chromosome drive, Distorter’s spread can additionally facilitate transitions between XY and X0 sex determination. Our results provide proof of principle that stretches the current understanding of segregation modifier and sex allocation theory. Moreover, we identify alternative evolutionary trajectories that could also lead to remote control drive, and discuss its potential applications in developing synthetic sex-ratio-distorting elements for use in, e.g., pest management.
Greenberg, Naomi L., Patten, Manus M. & Schenkel, Martijn A. 2025. Autosomally-encoded segregation
distortion of sex chromosomes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. DOI:
10.1098/rspb 2025.1085.
CONTACT: Martijn A. Schenkel
EMAIL: maschenkel@gmail.com
All data and additional files are included in data_archive.zip.
This data archive is structured in a way that it is clear how the various files are used to generate specific elements from the manuscript. This means that most data and analysis scripts are ordered into folders that correspond to specific figures from the main text or supplementary material. Note that non-data figures (e.g. Figure 1, Figure 6) are excluded from this archive, and only the data and analysis files from data figures are included. The folders in this archive are as follows: All the data folders have a separte README.txt which explains the variables included within the data files.
/Figure_2
Contains the code (“analysis.R”) used to generate the data used in Figure 2, a script for generating Figure 1 (“figure_script.R”) as well as additional folders containing the data. A separate README.txt is included with further details.
/Figure_3
Contains the code (“analysis.R”) used to generate the data used in Figure 3, a script for generating Figure 1 (“figure_script.R”) as well as additional folders containing the data. A separate README.txt is included with further details.
/Figure_4
Contains the code (“analysis.R”) used to generate the data used in Figure 4, a script for generating Figure 1 (“figure_script.R”) as well as additional folders containing the data. A separate README.txt is included with further details.
/Figure_5
Contains the code (“analysis.R”) used to generate the data used in Figure 5, a script for generating Figure 1 (“figure_script.R”) as well as additional folders containing the data. A separate README.txt is included with further details.
/supplementary_figures
Contains a folder for each supplementary figure that features data (Figures S1-S5); each folder also includes a README.txt file with further details. Note that Supplementary Figure S6 is a non-data figure and therefore excluded from this archive.