Genetic conflict and evolution of mammalian X-chromosome inactivation.
The existence of parentally imprinted gene expression in the somatic tissues of mammals and plants can be explained by a theory of intragenomic genetic conflict, which is a logical extension of classical parent-offspring conflict theory. This theory unites conceptually the phenomena of autosomal imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation. We argue that recent experimental studies of X-chromosome inactivation and androgenetic development address previously published predictions of the conflict theory, and we discuss possible explanations for the occurrence of random X-inactivation in the somatic tissues of eutherians.
Moore
T
T
Department of Development and Signalling, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Hurst
L D
LD
Reik
W
W
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals; D008954:Models, Biological; D012744:Sex Ratio