Selfish centromeres and the wastefulness of human reproduction

• Published in: PLoS biology Vol. 20; no. 7; p. e3001671
• Main Author: Hurst, Laurence D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.07.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Aneuploidy; Animals; Biology and Life Sciences; Birds; Centromere; Centromeres; Chromosomes; Cooperation; Cost control; Eggs; Embryo, Mammalian; Embryos; Human reproduction; Human wastes; Humans; Mammals; Meiosis; Mice; Mortality; Nondisjunction; Offspring; Pregnancy; Provisioning; Reproduction; Sperm; Vertebrates; Weaning; United Kingdom

Many human embryos die in utero owing to an excess or deficit of chromosomes, a phenomenon known as aneuploidy; this is largely a consequence of nondisjunction during maternal meiosis I. Asymmetries of this division render it vulnerable to selfish centromeres that promote their own transmission, the...