Navigation Links
Two from one: Pitt research maps out evolution of genders from hermaphroditic ancestors
Date:11/20/2008

PITTSBURGHResearch from the University of Pittsburgh published in the Nov. 20 edition of Heredity could finally provide evidence of the first stages of the evolution of separate sexes, a theory that holds that males and females developed from hermaphroditic ancestors. These early stages are not completely understood because the majority of animal species developed into the arguably less titillating separate-sex state too long ago for scientists to observe the transition.

However, Tia-Lynn Ashman, a plant evolutionary ecologist in the Department of Biological Sciences in Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences, documented early separate-sex evolution in a wild strawberry species still transitioning from hermaphroditism. These findings also apply to animals (via the unified theory) and provide the first evidence in support of the theory that the establishment of separate sexes stemmed from a genetic mutation in hermaphroditic genes that led to male and female sex chromosomes. With the ability to breed but spared the inbred defects of hermaphrodites, the separate sexes flourished.

"This is an important test of the theory of the early stages of sex chromosome evolution and part of the process of understanding the way we are today," Ashman said. She added that the study also shows that plants can lend insight into animal and human evolution. "We have the opportunity to observe the evolution of sex chromosomes in plants because that development is more recent. We wouldn't see this in animals because the sex chromosomes developed so long ago. Instead, we can study a species that is in that early stage now and apply it to animals based on the unified theory that animal and plant biology often overlaps."

Ashman reported in Science in 2004 that animals and flowering plants employ similar reproductive strategies to increase reproductive success and genetic diversity. These methods include large numbers of sperm cells in males, mate competition
'/>"/>

Contact: Morgan Kelly
mekelly@pitt.edu
412-624-4356
University of Pittsburgh
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Researcher tricks immune system in diabetic mice
2. Soybean grant gives researchers tools to unravel better bean
3. Researchers shed new light on catalyzed reactions
4. Biomedical research profits from the exploration of the deep sea
5. Researchers at IRB Barcelona produce more data on key genes in diabetes
6. Pitt researchers use fluorescence to develop method for detecting mercury in fish
7. JDRF funded research shows promise for prevention, reversal of type 1 diabetes
8. NWO and Academy launch research program with China
9. Caltech researchers get first 3-D glimpse of bacterial cell-wall architecture
10. Could genetic research awaken racist attitudes?
11. Mayo researchers identify dangerous two-faced protein crucial to breast cancer spread and growth
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:6/19/2013)... Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical ... launch of a new open access journal, GeoResJ ... , Elsevier,s earth and planetary science journals portfolio has ... to provide a forum for rapid publication of top ... will be co-edited by six Executive Editors, each covering ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... the University of Calgary,s Faculty of Medicine have discovered ... from harmful bacteria. Platelets, a component of blood typically ... specific bacteria, and upon detection, seal it off from ... published in Nature Immunology this week, provide ... , "The science community has known that platelets do ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... environmental engineer has been awarded a $394,300 grant ... water quality and flow in the new facilities ... Kruzic, UT Arlington associate professor of civil engineering, ... add monochloramine to the water in an effort ... stations and pipelines. Adding monochloramine is widely practiced ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Immunity mechanism discovered 2UT Arlington research to benefit quality, flow in 150-mile Integrated Pipeline 2
... orchids have been found to rely on a wide ... of the soil instead of producing their own organic ... the open access journal BMC Biology , also ... and Mlanie Roy, from the Centre d,Ecologie Fonctionnelle et ...
... Carnegie Mellon University have developed an analytical technique to ... disease syndromes such as diabetes, asthma and cancer, which ... Rather than searching one at a time for genetic ... as in most conventional approaches, the Carnegie Mellon scientists ...
... Water striders, the familiar semi-aquatic bugs gliding across the ... allows them to walk on water. This was not ... evolution of a unique arrangement of the legs, with the ... of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology have discovered the gene behind ...
Cached Biology News:Carnegie Mellon develops innovative method to detect genetic causes of complex diseases 2
(Date:6/19/2013)... Clinverse, Inc. , a ... trials, today announced it will be exhibiting and ... in Boston, June 24-26, 2013. Clinverse’s eClinical ... fully configurable, cloud-based clinical financial lifecycle system. , ... Clinverse’s eClinical Commerce Network, automates site contract set-up ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... Calif. , June 19, 2013 ... plant, stool and other challenging microbial nucleic acid ... Protein Extraction Kit, for extraction of pure protein ... protein world coincides with the 20 th ... growing innovation capabilities. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130619/LA32633 ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... CLEVELAND , June 19, 2013   NineSigma ... announced that a year following its launch, NineSights.com ... and a focal point for the worldwide community of ... to climate and environmental sustainability experts, NineSights stands out ... broad range of scientific and technical disciplines, all vetted ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... (PRWEB) June 19, 2013 Today DuPont ... young people to become leaders in the greatest challenge ... billion people in 2050. Borel spoke at the ... Conference in Atlanta, about urgent need for students to ... are local, science-based, sustainable and reached in collaboration with ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Clinverse, Inc. Exhibiting and Showcasing Its Technology at DIA 2013 2MO BIO Laboratories, Inc. launches the first kit for protein extraction from soil 2NineSigma Evolves Global Open Innovation through Social Media Platform, NineSights 2NineSigma Evolves Global Open Innovation through Social Media Platform, NineSights 3DuPont Leader Calls for New Generation of Food Visionaries to Fight Hunger 2
... Purpose , ... this series describes an LC/MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination ... FK-506), Sirolimus (SIR, aka Rapamycin) and Everolimus (EVE, aka RAD-001) ... robust hardware configuration and shows to be fast and simple, ...
... , ... As the study of protein biomarkers increases in ... protein pathway information and discovery-based proteomics experiments. Even larger numbers of ... gene expression studies or other genomic information. , ...
... Purpose , ... non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) antiretroviral drugs is of significant ... metabolism variability. To be of practical use, it is essential ... fast and easy to perform, with minimal sample preparation, and ...
Cached Biology Technology:A new LC/MS/MS Research Method for Rapid Quantitation of Five Immunosuppressant Drugs, including Mycophenolic Acid (MPA) 2A new LC/MS/MS Research Method for Rapid Quantitation of Five Immunosuppressant Drugs, including Mycophenolic Acid (MPA) 3A new LC/MS/MS Research Method for Rapid Quantitation of Five Immunosuppressant Drugs, including Mycophenolic Acid (MPA) 4A new LC/MS/MS Research Method for Rapid Quantitation of Five Immunosuppressant Drugs, including Mycophenolic Acid (MPA) 5Multiplexed Quantitative Peptide Assays for Protein Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Human Plasma 2Multiplexed Quantitative Peptide Assays for Protein Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Human Plasma 3Multiplexed Quantitative Peptide Assays for Protein Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Human Plasma 4Multiplexed Quantitative Peptide Assays for Protein Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Human Plasma 5A simple and rapid LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of nine antiretroviral drugs commonly used in Europe (protease Inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) 2A simple and rapid LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of nine antiretroviral drugs commonly used in Europe (protease Inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) 3A simple and rapid LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of nine antiretroviral drugs commonly used in Europe (protease Inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) 4
... for quick and reproducible immunoprecipitation (IP) by using ... more reproducible than regular IPs, which are problematic ... without disrupting the agarose bed. The binding of ... reversible, and elution of the immune complex can ...
... Kit (V2), 2 x 11K will ... of many thousands of yeast genes ... biological processes. Each microarray contains sequences ... from the S288C strain of Saccharomyces ...
... require screening through a huge volume ... data from normal biologic diversity. The ... available to help better manage the ... inherent to biomarker discovery. The CiphergenExpress ...
... Immunoprecipitation kit allows a rapid and ... active FLAG-tagged protein. The immunoprecipitation is ... is a highly specific monoclonal antibody ... use of affinity resin allows an ...
Biology Products: