Emergence and stabilisation of a neo-Y chromosome in nematode species with rare males
We have previously found that a mode of partial asexual reproduction called autopseudogamy evolved once in the genus of free-living nematodes Mesorhabditis, and that one autopseudogamous species of Mesorhabditis, M. belari, has a XX/XY sex chromosome system.  In this study, we identified and characterised the sex chromosome system of two sexual and two autopseudogamous species of Mesorhabditis spanning the phylogeny of this genus. We found that the ancestor of Mesorhabditis was XX/X0, while a neo-Y chromosome evolved once in the ancestor of the autopseudogamous species.  Paper DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag177
We have previously found that a mode of partial asexual reproduction called autopseudogamy evolved once in the genus of free-living nematodes Mesorhabditis, and that one autopseudogamous species of Mesorhabditis, M. belari, has a XX/XY sex chromosome system.  In this study, we identified and characterised the sex chromosome system of two sexual and two autopseudogamous species of Mesorhabditis spanning the phylogeny of this genus. We found that the ancestor of Mesorhabditis was XX/X0, while a neo-Y chromosome evolved once in the ancestor of the autopseudogamous species.  Paper DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag177