Mitochondrial mutations may drive Y chromosome evolution.
The human Y chromosome contains very low levels of nucleotide variation. It has been variously hypothesized that this invariance reflects historic reductions in the human male population, a very recent common ancestry, a slow rate of molecular evolution, an inability to evolve adaptively, or frequent selective sweeps acting on genes borne on the Y chromosome. We propose an alternative theory in which human Y chromosome evolution is driven by mutations in the maternally inherited mitochondrial genome, which impair male fertility and ultimately lead to a reduction in the effective population size (N(e)) and consequently the variability of the Y chromosome.
Gemmell
Neil J
NJ
Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. n.gemmell@zool.canterbury.ac.nz
Sin
Frank Y T
FY
D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology*; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial