The global male-bias in sex ratio at birth is sustained by the sex ratio genotypes of replacement offspring

Genetica
Corry Gellatly

Abstract

Throughout the world, there is a male-bias in the sex ratio at birth (SRB). It is not known whether this phenomenon has a genetic basis, though there is tentative evidence from genealogical and genomic studies that it may have. It has been proposed that the higher rate of male childhood mortality in humans is linked to the male-bias in SRB through parental investment, but this may only apply to facultative not genetic sex ratio adjustment. In previous population genetic models, elevated mortality in one sex (prior to breeding) has been shown not to affect the SRB, but these models did not consider the role of replacement births (i.e. births that only occur because a sibling died prematurely). In a set of population genetic modelling simulations, in which sex ratio is controlled by an autosomal gene expressed in the male line, this study shows that when there is replacement of dead offspring, this leads to a sustained bias in the SRB in the direction of the sex suffering the highest mortality. In the example of higher male mortality, this occurs, because replacement offspring are disproportionately drawn from fathers who were genetically predisposed to have initially had sons (because sons were more likely to die prematurely), a...Continue Reading

References

Mar 23, 1978·Nature·J H Werren, E L Charnov
Jan 1, 1992·American Journal of Perinatology·J A McGregorA Baron
Sep 1, 1990·The British Journal of Medical Psychology·V J Grant
Apr 21, 1988·Nature·C N Johnson
Aug 1, 1987·Human Reproduction·M A CrawfordN Meadows
Jan 1, 1984·Annals of Human Biology·W H James
Apr 1, 1995·Annals of Human Genetics·W H James
Nov 1, 1996·Human Reproduction·V J Grant
Jan 9, 1999·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·V LummaaA Kause
Oct 26, 1999·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics·J IrvingP Matson
Nov 5, 1999·Human Reproduction·J GraffelmanJ D Schulman
Dec 22, 2000·BMJ : British Medical Journal·S Kraemer
Sep 26, 2002·Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series C, Applied Statistics·J K Lindsey, P M Altham
Apr 30, 2005·Human Reproduction·Tarmo TiidoAleksander Giwercman
Dec 2, 2006·Science·Montserrat GomendioJulian Garde
Mar 1, 1958·Genetics·R F Shaw
Aug 10, 2007·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Douglas Almond, Lena Edlund
May 1, 2008·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Joan B Silk, Gillian R Brown
Jul 31, 2012·Asian Journal of Andrology·Michael L EisenbergLarry I Lipshultz
Jul 31, 2012·Human Molecular Genetics·Vesna BoraskaEleftheria Zeggini
Jan 16, 2013·International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health·Sanjukta Chaudhuri
Jan 1, 2011·Emerging Health Threats Journal·Metrecia L TerrellMichele Marcus
Jan 7, 2014·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Amy M Edwards, Elissa Z Cameron
Apr 1, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Steven Hecht OrzackJames E Zuckerman
Oct 26, 2016·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health·Corry Gellatly, Marion Petrie
Sep 1, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Aurelio F MaloRobert C Lacy

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
C S Albretsen
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved