Fitness effects of a selfish gene (the Mus t complex) are revealed in an ecological context

Evolution. 2004 Jun;58(6):1318-28. doi: 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2004.tb01710.x.

Abstract

In wild house mice, genes linked to the t transmission distortion complex cause meiotic drive by sabotaging wild-type gametes. The t complex is consequently inherited at frequencies higher than 90%. Yet, for unclear reasons, in wild mouse populations this selfish DNA is found at frequencies much lower than expected. Here, we examine selection on the t complex in 10 seminatural populations of wild mice based on data from 234 founders and nearly 2000 progeny. Eight of the 10 populations decreased in t frequency over one generation, and the overall frequency of t haplotypes across all 10 populations was 48.5% below expectations based on transmission distortion and 34.3% below Mendelian (or Hardy-Weinberg) expectations. Behavioral and reproductive data were collected for 10 months for each population, and microsatellite genotyping was performed on seven of the populations to determine parentage. These combined data show t-associated fitness declines in both males and females. This is the first study to show evidence for a reduction in the ability of +/t males to maintain territories. Because females tend to mate with dominant males, impairment of territorial success can explain much of the selection against t observed in our populations. In nature, selection against heterozygote carriers of the t complex helps solve the puzzlingly low t frequencies found in wild populations. This ecological approach for determining fitness consequences of genetic variants has broad application for the discovery of gene function in general.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Fertility / physiology*
  • Florida
  • Genetics, Population*
  • Genotype
  • Haplotypes / genetics
  • Inbreeding
  • Mice / genetics*
  • Mice / physiology
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Observation
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / genetics*
  • Selection, Genetic*
  • Social Dominance
  • Territoriality
  • t-Complex Genome Region

Substances

  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins