Population-specific, recent positive directional selection suggests adaptation of human male reproductive genes to different environmental conditions

• Published in: BMC ecology and evolution Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 27 - 11
• Main Authors: Schaschl, Helmut, Wallner, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 13.02.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adaptation; Biological evolution; Competition; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Enrichment; Environmental conditions; Environmental quality; Evolution; Evolutionary genetics; Fertility; Fertilization; Gametocytes; Genes; Genetic adaption; Genetic aspects; Genetic research; Genomes; Genomics; Hormones; Human populations; Human reproduction; Human testis-enriched genes; Male identity; Male reproductive genes; Men; Natural history; Phylogeny; Population genetics; Positive selection; Primates; Proteins; Reproductive system; Software; Sperm; Sperm competition; Spermatocytes; Spermatogenesis; Stress (physiology); Testes; Time; Transcription; Transcription (Genetics); Austria; United Kingdom > UK; Genetic adaption; Male reproductive genes; Human testis-enriched genes; Positive selection

Recent human transcriptomic analyses revealed a very large number of testis-enriched genes, many of which are involved in spermatogenesis. This comprehensive transcriptomic data lead us to the question whether positive selection was a decisive force influencing the evolution and variability of testi...