BRS Christina Hodson: Evolution of germline restricted chromosomes and non-Mendelian inheritance in fungus gnats

Zoom webinar link for remote attendees:

https://ubc.zoom.us/j/66364136696?pwd=OVp2UW10Ulp5eCtncTVzQ3pvWmFZUT09

Passcode: 202209

host: Judith Mank

Title: Evolution of germline restricted chromosomes and non-Mendelian inheritance in fungus gnats

Abstract: 

In eukaryotes, all cells within an individual generally have the same genetic 

composition (i.e. DNA sequence). However, some animals have evolved an unusual 

system of germline differentiation which involves parts of the genome being eliminated 

from body cells and therefore being restricted to the germline. Fungus gnats are an 

interesting example of this phenomenon, as these flies carry two entire chromosomes 

that are restricted to the germline in adult flies. The germline restricted chromosomes

 in fungus gnats are part of the unusual chromosome transmission system found in 

these flies, which evolved approximately 50 million years ago and involves chromosome 

elimination as a means of sex determination and parent of origin specific chromosome 

transmission. How does this system, and specifically the germline restricted chromosomes, 

evolve and how do the germline restricted chromosomes in fungus gnats compare to 

other animals with germline restricted DNA? I will discuss work using genomic data to 

characterise the content of the germline restricted chromosomes in fungus gnats, including 

some surprising findings suggesting that these chromosomes evolved through introgression.

Dr. Hodson is a postdoctoral fellow studying in the Mank lab at UBC.