Gene Co-Inheritance and Gene Transfer
Yaniv Brandvain,*
Michael S. Barker,
Michael J. Wade
Functional transfer of mitochondrial genes to the nucleus is
very common in some taxa but entirely lacking in others. Current
evolutionary theories to account for this variation predict
that outcrossing, which allows escape from Muller's ratchet
and faster spread of beneficial mutations, should favor gene
transfer. We find that functional gene transfer is more common
in selfing or clonal plants than in outcrossing plants, a pattern
opposite to prediction. We suggest that reproductive modes,
such as selfing and vegetative reproduction, conserve adaptive
mitonuclear gene combinations, allowing functional transfer,
whereas outcrossing prevents transfer by breaking up these combinations.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ybrandva{at}indiana.edu
