Microbial manipulation of host sex determination. Endosymbiotic bacteria can directly manipulate their host's sex determination towards the production of female offspring.

Abstract excerpt

A recent study in the lepidopteran Ostrinia scapulalis shows that endosymbionts can actively manipulate the sex determination mechanism of their host. Wolbachia bacteria alter the sex-specific splicing of the doublesex master switch gene. In ZZ males of this female heterogametic system, the female isoform of doublesex is produced in the presence of the bacteria. The effect is a lethal feminization of genotypic...

Topics

Share this publication in a Topic to start or enrich a Post.

• Share to Biological Evolution
• Share to Host-Pathogen Interactions