Mitochondrial Mutations, Sperm Function and Male Fertility — ASN Events

Mitochondrial Mutations, Sperm Function and Male Fertility (#49)

Neil Gemmell 1
  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Mitochondria are central to eukaryotic life. They retain their own genome (mtDNA) and this molecule has important roles in energenesis and a growing list of other processes. mtDNA is almost universally inherited solely through the female lineage, which provides opportunity for selection to operate asymmetrically between males and females, and a growing body of work suggests strongly that mtDNA mutations may have stronger effects on phenotype in males than females  – an idea we termed 'Mother's Curse". In particular, we pointed out that male specific traits, such as sperm function, would be profoundly affected by this asymmetry in selection. In this talk I will review some of the background around the development of the Mother's Curse hypothesis, particularly around the effects predicted on male reproductive functions, some evidence that supports the hypothesis, and then consider areas in evolution and ecology where this theory might have impact or application, including a new form of biocontrol we can the "Trojan Female Technique".