[NatureNS] Calligrapha leaf beetles and Father's Day

Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:12:06 -0300
From: Gerald Ruderman <naturens@zdoit.airpost.net>
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=A0&lt;I&gt;Calligraph
Chris,

How do the unisexual species evolve? Is there some exchange of genetic
material between the females or with the closely related species?

c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca wrote:
. . . .

> I'll note, parenthetically, that this genus of beetles is a very
> interesting one which has been the subject of considerable recent
> genetic research. Most of the species in the genus are normal, diploid,
> bisexual species, however, there are four species in the group which are
> tetraploid, unisexual (female only) species that reproduce
> parthenogenetically. Unisexuality in beetles is a comparatively rare
> phenomenon. Recent research has established that these tetraploid
> species have resulted from hybridization between two species and
> using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA the maternal and paternal "parents"
> of these species have been established. They are:
. . . .
> Most of these species (/philadelphica, alnicola, confluens, rowena,
> multipunctata, & scalaris/) are found in the Maritimes, so this region
> is a very interesting laboratory of the development and evolution of
> this species-rich genus (37 species are found in North America, and
> there are many more in neotropical areas).

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