The Phenomenon of Reproductive Parasitism and its Evolutionary Implications.
Marcelo Vieira da Silva
Genetics and Evolution – BIO372
Professors Kate Bryant and Jennie Chaplin
October 16, 2014 Evolutionary biology is a branch of biology that investigates the evolution of organism, especially in the areas of molecular and microbial evolution, behavior, genetics, ecology, life histories, development, paleontology, systematics, and morphology. In this essay I am going to discuss about how microorganism may affect their hosts from the phenomenon of reproductive parasitism, and explain its evolutionary implications.
The first step is defining the process of symbiosis and what are the possible associations between living
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Disrupting the mode of sex determination of their hosts could be advantageous for endosymbionts because they are predominantly transmitted vertically through the female egg cytoplasm, and not via male sperm (Courdax, 2011). From this perspective, male hosts do not offer advantages to the production or survival of endosymbionts, for this reason males are known as dead-end to the success of reproductive parasites. However, some endosymbionts have developed mechanisms to get over this barrier, assuming host’s reproductive mechanisms to their own benefits. Many endosymbionts can induce reproductive manipulations such as, feminization of genetic males, male-killing, parthenogenesis in females, and cytoplasmic incompatibility (Engelstaedter, 2006).
Because of their nature, reproductive parasites are very common. The most commonly known species is alpha proteobacteria, Wolbachia. However, there are several endosymbionts of arthropods such as, Cardinium, Rickttesia, Spiroplasma, Flavobacteria and Arsenophonus, that also have evolved such a selfish evolutionary strategy consisting of manipulating their host reproduction as demonstrated on table 1 below. From this perspective we can assume that Wolbachia is the most successful endosymbionts by its numerous mains of reproductive manipulation mechanisms of their
A more recent evolutionist of the theory is Lynn Margulis, who is famous through her research career that mainly focused on this concept. It was Biologist Lynn Margulis from Boston University who in 1967 began to tell an older view. She suggested that certain prokaryotes had been overtaken by larger more active species. Instead of being digested inside the host cell some victims continued to thrive and grow. The theory of Endosymbiosis describes the origin of chloroplasts and mitochondria and their double membranes. This concept explains the idea that chloroplasts and mitochondria are the results of years of evolution started by endocytosis of bacteria and blue green algae. Based on this theory, blue green algae and bacteria are not
A nutritional symbiotic relationship is when two or more species have an interaction with another that is beneficial to the animal. There are different types of a symbiotic relationship, these include Parasitism, when one organism is benefited from a host animal who is harmed through the interaction, Commensalism, when one animal benefits and the other is not affected and stays neutral, and Mutualism, when both animals are benefited from interaction. Although there are three different types of relationships, some of them may occur in different places within or outside the body. Endosymbiosis occurs when a species has a symbiotic relationship within the host’s body, such as
There are three forms of symbiotic relationships namely mutualism, commensalism and parasitism. The partners in a symbiotic relationship may either benefit from, be unaffected by, or be harmed by the kind of relationship that exists between them, (Berg 2007). Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship in which both the partners benefit from the relationship, (Berg 2007). Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship whereby one party benefits while the other party is neither harmed nor benefits, (Berg 2007). Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship in which one party benefits while the other is harmed, (Berg 2007).
Endosymbiosis is the theory that eukaryotic cells were formed when a prokaryotic cell ingested some aerobic bacteria. The first step of the evolution of a eukaryotic cell is the infolding of the cellular membrane. This process takes place when the plasma membrane folds inwards and develops an envelope around a smaller prokaryotic cell. Once the smaller cell is engulfed, it becomes dependent upon its host cell. It relies on the host cell for organic molecules and inorganic compounds. However, the host cell also benefits because it has an increased output of ATP for cellular activities and becomes more productive. This ATP comes from the mitochondrion (the aerobe) that is engulfed.
semen biomass was added to experimental chambers with Daphnia no mortality of the organisms was observed.
In its basic form, the theory of evolution has been confirmed so completely that most modern biologists consider evolution simply a fact (Mayr 1982). It states that environmental factors such as climate, disease, competition from other organisms, and availability of certain types of food will lead to the preferential survival and reproduction of
Research groups from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine and the Institute of Evolution at the University of Haifa have been studying the model organism, Sordaria fimicola, in regards to controlling cross over frequency in response to environmental pressures. Sordaria fimicola is a good model organism because it has a fast life cycle and elongated asci that are easily seen under a microscope. In addition, there are multiple different combinations of ascospore colors due to recombination during meiosis.
According to our text species of living things are related in some fashion similar to a branching tree. However the process is not quite that simple adaption relies on several processes and to prove this or the
Throughout decades, sexual selection has been acknowledged in the explanation of evolutionary patterns. With research, we have had the opportunity to study species of animals like the Syngnathidae family. Animals that are included in this category include pipefish, seahorses, and sea dragons. This species is known for their sex role reversal, meaning that the male fertilizes and carries the eggs during incubation after the female has laid them. When we look more specifically at the pipefish, it is found that males are left with most of the parenting and care for the offspring. As the male carries its eggs, it supplies them with nutrients and oxygen through the placenta. During pipefish copulation, the female transfers her eggs through a small
Ovoviviparity is a type of viviparity where the developing embryos are carried in a pouch or an outgrowth of genital ducts and is most commonly known in the cockroach families (Huffaker, 1999, p. 149). This type of viviparity is less taxing on the female since the developing young are not directly sustaining themselves off her body as they do in true viviparity. Aphids on the other hand use a strange method known as ‘telescoping generations’. The term ‘telescoping generations’, according to Capinera (2008), “refers to the fact that a mother can have in her ovarioles developing embryos which in turn also contain embryos or future granddaughters” (p. 195). This is an advantage since as soon as they become adults they are able to reproduce immediately due to the fact that they already had developing embryos in them (Capinera, 2008, p.1104). While viviparity commonly has a low reproductive rate there are such insects, like cockroaches and aphids, which are able to use this form of reproduction to their advantage to produce higher numbers of
Symbiotic relationships are referred to a special type of partnership between a lot species. These relationships can sometimes be beneficial or sometimes even harmful. These kinds of cohesion are essential for many ecosystems and organism today. They provide a working balance that can only be achieved by working with each other. When two different species somehow finds a way to coexist and it’s beneficial for both sides, is often referred to a mutualistic relationship.
Wolbachia is a bacterium, which infects nematodes and insects, spiders, and crustaceans, which are considered arthropods. Although Wolbachia is known to be present within up to 75 % of insect species, the disease cannot be transmitted to humans or to animals. To have the help of qualified and intelligent scientist, Armstrong students is participating in this project to give other scientist a helping hand. Students of Armstrong help scientist determine the extent of Wolbachia because many strains of Wolbachia exist within the insect population.
The life cycle of Cymothoa exigua is unknown but one thing for sure is that they undergo sexual reproduction. Scientists believe that when the juvenile parasite first attaches to the fish’s gills, they
Protist predators come in different forms one of them is called a parasite, it derives nutrition from its host. These parasite feed of from the host in order for it to survive (Mader 2010) Also, these parasites cause disease and sickness. There are three key forms of parasites which may stimulate disease in humans: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites. (CDC). types of parasites around the world, but for this essay will compare two parasites which are Toxoplasma gondii genus (is a type of roundworm) and Enterobius vermicularis. E.vermicular is a parasitic disease triggered by pinworm to humans. While T.gondii is a protozoan parasite which causes a disease identified as toxoplasmosis and this parasite affects warm blooded animals (Holm G, Roth E 2016), T.gondii is found in the faeces of cats and undercooked meals, lamb and pork as well, this parasite is transmitted through the partaking of the contaminated water meaning that it is easy to get this parasite in areas were water is fetched from the rivers. The Enterobius vermicularis is found to be under the domain of eukarya, the
WHY: To determine the potential significance of sperm attractants stabilizing species barriers and increasing gamete interactions evolutionarily and ecologically.