Autotoky

Autotoky is uniparental reproduction by self-fertilization or by parthenogenesis.[1][2] The word comes from the Greek words auto meaning self and tokos meaning birth. Plants that reproduce by parthenogenesis usually do so by apomixis, a process that retains meiosis.[3] Animals that reproduce by parthenogenesis usually use automixis, another process that retains meiosis.[3] The elements of meiosis that are retained in these reproductive systems are (1) pairing of homologous chromosomes, (2) DNA double-strand break formation, and (3) recombinational repair at prophase I.[3] The adaptive function of meiosis that is retained in these forms of autotoky appears to be repair of DNA damage.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Thorp, James H. (2009-11-24). Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-374855-3.
  2. ^ Perry, Roland N.; Maurice Moens (2006-08-10). Plant nematology. CABI. ISBN 978-1-84593-056-1.
  3. ^ a b c d Mirzaghaderi G, Hörandl E. The evolution of meiotic sex and its alternatives. Proc Biol Sci. 2016 Sep 14;283(1838):20161221. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1221. PMID 27605505; PMCID: PMC5031655