Origin and evolution of Y chromosomes: Drosophila tales.
Classically, Y chromosomes are thought to originate from X chromosomes through a process of degeneration and gene loss. Now, the availability of 12 Drosophila genomes provides an opportunity to study the origin and evolution of Y chromosomes in an informative phylogenetic context. Surprisingly, the majority of Drosophila Y-linked genes are recent acquisitions from autosomes and Y chromosome gene gains are more frequent than gene losses. Moreover, the Drosophila pseudoobscura Y chromosome lacks homology with the Y of most Drosophila species. Thus, the Drosophila Y has a different evolutionary history from canonical Y chromosomes (such as the mammalian Y) and it also might have a different origin.
Bernardo Carvalho
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Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. bernardo@biologia.ufrj.br
Koerich
Leonardo B
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Clark
Andrew G
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D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*