Satellite DNAs in eukaryotes: a non-adaptive mechanism of speciation which originated with sexual reproduction?
Satellite DNAs may have originated during evolution at the same time as sexual reproduction in order to suppress crossingover between the 2 heterogametic sex chromosomes, and may have acquired a function of sterility barriers in hybrid species during evolution. This origin of satellite DNAs appears to be reflected in different stages of speciation: partial and total heterogametic sex hybrid sterility and full hybrid sterility might correspond to subspecies, semispecies and full species.
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004276:DNA, Satellite / Q000235:genetics*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology*
D004276:DNA, Satellite; D004247:DNA