Mable Barbara K
Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
Trends Ecol Evol. 2007 Nov;22(11):559-61. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2007.07.006. Epub 2007 Nov 1.
The possible existence of ancient asexual lineages has long puzzled evolutionary biologists because a lack of recombination should, in theory, cause such lineages to be short lived. Recent research on what was considered to be a classic example of a such a lineage, an all-female polyploid hybrid complex of Ambystoma salamanders, not only refutes previous allegations of sexual abstinence in this complex, but also provides insights into unprecedented flexibility in interactions between genomes residing within individuals. These studies have important implications for understanding mechanisms for maintaining a functional balance between hybridizing genomes. They also demonstrate how combining genomic tools with older techniques can change current views on the rules governing genetic exchange.
长期以来,古代无性谱系的可能存在一直困扰着进化生物学家,因为理论上缺乏重组会导致这些谱系寿命短暂。最近对被认为是此类谱系经典例子的研究,即美西螈的全雌性多倍体杂交复合体,不仅驳斥了此前关于该复合体中无性生殖的说法,还为个体内基因组间相互作用前所未有的灵活性提供了见解。这些研究对于理解维持杂交基因组间功能平衡的机制具有重要意义。它们还展示了将基因组工具与传统技术相结合如何能够改变当前对遗传交换规则的看法。