This seminar was by Tom Price and he discussed his study on genes that ‘cheat’. Most genes co-operate.
Meiotic drive
Meiotic drive is when a diploid organism, has gametes with a haploid number of gametes. The meiotic process is changes so that the fitness is increased and the transmission of alleles occur.
In some organisms sperm cells are killed as a result of this meiotic drive in the male species.
Mating systems can be transformed through meiotic drive and can inhibit the distribution of spread.
X-chromosome meiotic drive is when the sex chromosomes eliminate the Y
chromosomes, therefore mostly females are produced and less males are produced.
Drosphilia pseudoobscura
Tom discussed his study on this species, and how the females would reproduce with sex ratio males. These males produced much less sperm and so lose in sperm competition.
Females of the species have evolved to prefer polyandry rather than monandry to combat the sex ratio males and avoid population extinction.
Speciation
Speciation is a factor when promoting biodiversity, speciation leads to more species becoming endemic to their area as many of the species in the Seychelles.
Meiotic drive ca cause conflictual speciation where if gene drive is present reproductive divergence occurs as the population becomes sex bias.
Gene drive and disease
Gene drive can be very beneficial in preventing and eventually eradicating diseases such as malaria.
Gene drive can also help eradicate invasive species that are harmful to the native wildlife
If sex bias is produced and only males or only females are produced then the population can be eradicated without the need for culling.
Individual thoughts and opinions
I found this seminar very interesting, the prospect of gene engineering has always interested me. The idea that diseases could be eradicated in such a small space of time is a breakthrough.
However the dangers of manipulating genes is only just being recognised and more research I definitely needed on the area.
Oliver Stoakes Zoology 