Please help with some epigenetics! Arguably, the hermaphroditic gender is able t
ID: 208939 • Letter: P
Question
Please help with some epigenetics!
Arguably, the hermaphroditic gender is able to self-fertilize and could be evolutionarily advantageous over the flies because the requirement for the male gender occurs at such a low frequency and isn’t completely necessary for the nematodes to reproduce. Therefore, the nematode may have a selective advantage over the flies in this case. Although, the male does help with genetic diversity, when the DCC impairs the male single X chromosome from interacting with its nuclear pore proteins seen in the hermaphrodite. However, there is evidence that developmental plasticity has been found to be decreased in hermaphrodite only organism so it depends on the level of diversity required in that generation of nematode.
What is your opinion about the above statement?
Explanation / Answer
The development of hermaphrodites is a remarkable evolutionary tool. It helps to continue generation without need of a partner. This provides advantages to nematodes where the population is at risk from flies. The males have only one X chromosome. This can be inhibited by X chromosome inactivation [ DCC ]. However, the lesser dependence on males in hermaphrodites helps to reduce the effect of DCC. The developmental plasticity refers to the specific early signal during developmental stages can have lasting impressions. In hermaphrodites the plasticity is reduced due to reduced exposure to foreign resources.
The X chromosome inactivation is a very commonly observed epigenetic phenomenon. One of the X chromosome in inactivated, so that only one of the two X chromosome is active.