A team led by the University of Sheffield has traced how a selfish gene disrupts inheritance patterns in insects, offering a possible route for controlling species that spread disease or damage crops. The research, published in PLOS Genetics, focuses on meiotic drive, a process where certain genes bias their transmission to offspring instead of following the expected 50/50 inheritance.
The group studied the Malaysian stalk-eyed fly (Teleopsis dalmanni), which carries a selfish gene that interferes with sperm development. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, the researchers profiled gene expression in individual sperm cells and discovered that the selfish gene alters the activity of genes required for normal sperm function. This disruption impairs Y-chromosome-bearing sperm, resulting in a sharp skew toward female offspring.
“All genes are selfish, but some are more selfish than others,” said Alison Wright, principal investigator at Sheffield. “Meiotic drive is a powerful mechanism and, in the insect world, some selfish genes can have a major effect on the numbers of male and female offspring that are produced.”
Lead author Peter Price explained that the sequencing approach revealed how the selfish gene directly weakens sperm carrying the Y chromosome. “The selfish gene is able to damage the mobility of rival sperm that carry a Y chromosome, which results in fewer male offspring,” he said. Over time, this leads to populations with extremely few males and reduced fertility.
Although T. dalmanni is not a pest, the study demonstrates how selfish genes can destabilize insect populations. The researchers plan to investigate the origins of this gene and its long-term consequences, with an eye toward applying the findings to pest species that impact health and agriculture.
Publication Details
Price PD, Parkus SM, Lloyd VJ, Alston BT, Bradshaw SL, et al. (2025) Single-cell consequences of X-linked meiotic drive in stalk-eyed flies. PLOS Genetics 21(9): e1011816. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011816
The group studied the Malaysian stalk-eyed fly (Teleopsis dalmanni), which carries a selfish gene that interferes with sperm development. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, the researchers profiled gene expression in individual sperm cells and discovered that the selfish gene alters the activity of genes required for normal sperm function. This disruption impairs Y-chromosome-bearing sperm, resulting in a sharp skew toward female offspring.
“All genes are selfish, but some are more selfish than others,” said Alison Wright, principal investigator at Sheffield. “Meiotic drive is a powerful mechanism and, in the insect world, some selfish genes can have a major effect on the numbers of male and female offspring that are produced.”
Lead author Peter Price explained that the sequencing approach revealed how the selfish gene directly weakens sperm carrying the Y chromosome. “The selfish gene is able to damage the mobility of rival sperm that carry a Y chromosome, which results in fewer male offspring,” he said. Over time, this leads to populations with extremely few males and reduced fertility.
Although T. dalmanni is not a pest, the study demonstrates how selfish genes can destabilize insect populations. The researchers plan to investigate the origins of this gene and its long-term consequences, with an eye toward applying the findings to pest species that impact health and agriculture.
Publication Details
Price PD, Parkus SM, Lloyd VJ, Alston BT, Bradshaw SL, et al. (2025) Single-cell consequences of X-linked meiotic drive in stalk-eyed flies. PLOS Genetics 21(9): e1011816. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011816