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Sex-specific selection on the human X chromosome?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2004

PATRICIA BALARESQUE
Affiliation:
Unité Eco-Anthropologie MNHN/CNRS/P7 UMR5145, Paris, France Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Toulouse, France
BRUNO TOUPANCE
Affiliation:
Unité Eco-Anthropologie MNHN/CNRS/P7 UMR5145, Paris, France
QUINTANA-MURCI LLUIS
Affiliation:
CNRS URA1961, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
BRIGITTE CROUAU-ROY
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Toulouse, France
EVELYNE HEYER
Affiliation:
Unité Eco-Anthropologie MNHN/CNRS/P7 UMR5145, Paris, France

Abstract

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Genes involved in major biological functions, such as reproductive or cognitive functions, are choice targets for natural selection. However, the extent to which these genes are affected by selective pressures remains undefined. The apparent clustering of these genes on sex chromosomes makes this genomic region an attractive model system to study the effects of evolutionary forces. In the present study, we analysed the genetic diversity of a X-linked microsatellite in 1410 X-chromosomes from 10 different human populations. Allelic frequency distributions revealed an unexpected discrepancy between the sexes. By evaluating the different scenarios that could have led to this pattern, we show that sex-specific selection on the tightly linked VCX gene could be the most likely cause of such a distortion.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press