How and Why Do Sex Chromosomes Evolve?
Explore the fascinating world of sex chromosome evolution in this comprehensive lecture by Catherine Peichel. Delve into the conservation and diversity of sex chromosomes, examining theoretical models and empirical data. Discover the evolutionary timeline of the threespine stickleback Y chromosome assembly and learn about the three evolutionary strata consistent with known inversions between X and Y chromosomes. Investigate testis-biased gene expression and the candidate sex determination gene in threespine sticklebacks. Compare convergence and divergence in sex chromosome evolution across species. Examine the quartet strategy for sequencing neo-X and neo-Y chromosomes, and analyze differentiation patterns without substantial degeneration. Explore gene tree approaches to determine homology between sex chromosomes and investigate different evolutionary trajectories of homologous Y chromosomes. Discuss ongoing questions in sex chromosome evolution research, including asymmetric reproductive isolation and the search for signatures of sexually antagonistic selection. Gain insights into the ultimate goal of conducting functional tests for sexually antagonistic fitness effects using CRISPR technology. Read more