Endopolyploidy as a potential driver of animal ecology and evolution

Maurine Neiman; Margaret J Beaton; Dag O Hessen; Punidan D Jeyasingh; Lawrence J Weider

doi:10.1111/brv.12226

Back

Journal article

Endopolyploidy as a potential driver of animal ecology and evolution

Maurine Neiman, Margaret J Beaton, Dag O Hessen, Punidan D Jeyasingh and Lawrence J Weider

Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Vol.92(1), pp.234-247

02/2017

DOI: 10.1111/brv.12226

PMID: 26467853

Files and links (1)

url

http://hdl.handle.net/10852/62915View

Open Access

Abstract

Endopolyploidy - the existence of higher-ploidy cells within organisms that are otherwise of a lower ploidy level (generally diploid) - was discovered decades ago, but remains poorly studied relative to other genomic phenomena, especially in animals. Our synthetic review suggests that endopolyploidy is more common in animals than often recognized and probably influences a number of fitness-related and ecologically important traits. In particular, we argue that endopolyploidy is likely to play a central role in key traits such as gene expression, body and cell size, and growth rate, and in a variety of cell types, including those responsible for tissue regeneration, nutrient storage, and inducible anti-predator defences. We also summarize evidence for intraspecific genetic variation in endopolyploid levels and make the case that the existence of this variation suggests that endopolyploid levels are likely to be heritable and thus a potential target for natural selection. We then discuss why, in light of evident benefits of endopolyploidy, animals remain primarily diploid. We conclude by highlighting key areas for future research such as comprehensive evaluation of the heritability of endopolyploidy and the adaptive scope of endopolyploid-related traits, the extent to which endopolyploid induction incurs costs, and characterization of the relationships between environmental variability and endopolyploid levels.

Ecology

Animals

Biological Evolution

Genetic Variation

Polyploidy

Selection, Genetic

Details

Title: Subtitle: Endopolyploidy as a potential driver of animal ecology and evolution
Creators: Maurine Neiman - Department of Biology, University of Iowa, 143 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, U.S.A
Margaret J Beaton - Biology Department, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB E4L 1G7, Canada
Dag O Hessen - Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Punidan D Jeyasingh - Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK 74078, U.S.A
Lawrence J Weider - Department of Biology, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Room 304, Norman, OK 73019, U.S.A
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Vol.92(1), pp.234-247
DOI: 10.1111/brv.12226
PMID: 26467853
NLM abbreviation: Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc
ISSN: 1464-7931
eISSN: 1469-185X
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: National Science Foundation, award: MCB‐1122176
Language: English
Date published: 02/2017
Academic Unit: Office Of The Provost; Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies; Biology
Record Identifier: 9984217528702771

Metrics

20 Record Views

48 Times Cited - Web of Science