Evolutionary biology: sterile saviours.
Sterile sperm castes are widespread, but their significance remains enigmatic. New experiments on Drosophila pseudoobscura reveal that sterile sperm may promote the survival of fertilising sperm inside the spermicidal female reproductive tract.
Chapman
Tracey
T
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK. tracey.chapman@uea.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*