https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2006-00167-0
Mathematical glimpse on the Y chromosome degeneration
Instituto de Física Teórica, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rua Pamplona 145, 01405-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Corresponding author: a lobo@ft.org.br
Received:
3
August
2005
Revised:
25
October
2005
Published online:
5
May
2006
The Y chromosomes are genetically degenerate and do
not recombine with their matching partners X. Non-recombination of
XY pairs has been pointed out as the key factor for the degeneration of the Y chromosome.
The aim here is to show that there is a mathematical
asymmetry in sex chromosomes which leads to the degeneration of Y chromosomes
even in the absence of XX and XY recombination.
A model for sex-chromosome evolution in a stationary regime is
proposed. The consequences of their asymmetry are analyzed and lead us
to a couple of conclusions. First, Y chromosome
degeneration shows up more often than X chromosome
degeneration. Second, if nature prohibits female mortalities from beeing
exactly
, then Y chromosome degeneration is inevitable.
PACS: 87.23.Cc – Population dynamics and ecological pattern formation / 87.23.Kg – Dynamics of evolution
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2006