To Fuse or Not to Fuse? An Evolutionary View of Self-Recognition Systems

Brusini, Jérémie; Robin, Cécile; Franc, Alain

doi:10.4172/2329-9002.1000103

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 117 publications

(158 reference statements)

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“…different zygotes; Pineda-Krch and Lehtilä 2004). Chimeras challenge the notion of an individual and represent interesting models to be studied through a social perspective (Buss 1982;Aanen et al 2008;Brusini et al 2013). Chimeras can be considered as social groups since they comprise a collection of two or more conspecific individuals (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher reproductive success for chimeras than solitary individuals in the kelp Lessonia spicata but no benefit for individual genotypes

Casares

Faugeron

2016

Evol Ecol

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Chimerism is a peculiar, yet widespread, type of group living in which genetically heterogeneous entities are created through fusion between conspecifics. Here we tested whether chimerism provides direct benefits to the kelp Lessonia spicata, by analyzing its consequences on reproductive investment and success, at both the genotype and thallus levels. In addition, we quantified the frequency of chimerism in two natural populations, tested if group members were close kin, and evaluated the effects of relatedness and the number of genotypes per thallus on reproduction. Chimeric thalli were frequent ([60 %) in natural populations of L. spicata. In most cases, average intragroup relatedness was not significantly different from the background population. Reproductive investment was not significantly affected by the type of thallus (chimeric versus non-chimeric), by the number of genotypes per thallus or the average relatedness within thallus. Chimerism did not result in net benefits or costs in terms of genotypic reproductive success or probability of reproducing at the genotypic level. Yet, at the thallus level, chimerism increased reproductive success and the probability of reproducing, since more than one genotype reproduced in chimeric thallus. At the population level, chimerism affects L. spicata reproductive success by allowing the coexistence of a higher density of potential reproducers and mates compared to a scenario with only non-chimeric thallus. Chimerism may then have an important effect on the effective population size and possibly in reducing selfing rates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher reproductive success for chimeras than solitary individuals in the kelp Lessonia spicata but no benefit for individual genotypes

Casares

Faugeron

2016

Evol Ecol

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“…Natural chimerism is a widely documented phenomenon occurring in multiple phyla of protists, fungi, plants and animals, including chordates such as ascidians and mammals 1 . Genetic heterogeneity within organisms represents an evolutionary challenge, as several potential risks and advantages varying among taxa have been suggested but rarely tested 2–4 . Among marine invertebrates, chimerism and allorecognition have been studied in the main groups with colonial or modular species: Cnidaria 5,6 , Tunicata 7 , Porifera 8,9 and Bryozoa 10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High fusibility and chimera prevalence in an invasive colonial ascidian

Casso

Tagliapietra

Turon

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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The formation of chimeric entities through colony fusion has been hypothesized to favour colonisation success and resilience in modular organisms. In particular, it can play an important role in promoting the invasiveness of introduced species. We studied prevalence of chimerism and performed fusion experiments in Mediterranean populations of the worldwide invasive colonial ascidian Didemnum vexillum. We analysed single zooids by whole genome amplification and genotyping-by-sequencing and obtained genotypic information for more than 2,000 loci per individual. In the prevalence study, we analysed nine colonies and identified that 44% of them were chimeric, composed of 2–3 different genotypes. In the fusion experiment 15 intra- and 30 intercolony pairs were assayed but one or both fragments regressed and died in ~45% of the pairs. Among those that survived for the length of the experiment (30 d), 100% isogeneic and 31% allogeneic pairs fused. Fusion was unlinked to global genetic relatedness since the genetic distance between fused or non-fused intercolony pairs did not differ significantly. We could not detect any locus directly involved in allorecognition, but we cannot preclude the existence of a histocompatibility mechanism. We conclude that chimerism occurs frequently in D. vexillum and may be an important factor to enhance genetic diversity and promote its successful expansion.

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“…Fragmentation and fusion are common in the life cycle of several marine sponge species and seem to be species‐specific events that may be facilitated by the external morphology of the sponge (Wulff, ; Tsurumi and Reiswig, ; Blanquer et al., ). Fusion provides evolutionary and ecological benefits, but usually requires a recognition system to discriminate between self and nonself (Grosberg, ; Brusini et al., ). The lack of an allorecognition response upon contact, resulting in fusion of genetically different individuals, yields a chimaera (Pineda‐Krch and Lehtila, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fragmentation, Fusion, and Genetic Homogeneity in a Calcareous Sponge (Porifera, Calcarea)

et al. 2016

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Sessile marine invertebrates living on hard substrata usually present strategies such as size variations, longer life spans, fragmentation and fusion to occupy and compete for space. Calcareous sponges are usually small and short-lived, and some species are known to undergo frequent fragmentation and fusion events. However, whether fusion occurs only between genetically identical individuals remains unclear. We investigated the occurrence of chimaeras in the calcareous sponge Clathrina aurea by following the dynamics of fragmentation and fusion of 66 individuals in the field for up to 18 months and determined size variations and the life span of each individual. Microsatellites were used to determine whether fusion events occur among genetically different individuals. Growth and shrinkage of individuals were frequently observed, showing that size cannot be associated with age in C. aurea. The life span of the species ranged from 1 to 16 months (mean: 4.7 months). Short life spans and variable growth rates have been observed in other species of the class Calcarea. Fragmentation and fusion events were observed, but fusion events always occurred between genetically identical individuals, as has been suggested by graft experiments in adult Demospongiae and other Calcarea. These results suggest that at least C. aurea adults may have some mechanism to avoid chimaerism.

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To Fuse or Not to Fuse? An Evolutionary View of Self-Recognition Systems

Cited by 7 publications

References 117 publications

Higher reproductive success for chimeras than solitary individuals in the kelp Lessonia spicata but no benefit for individual genotypes

Higher reproductive success for chimeras than solitary individuals in the kelp Lessonia spicata but no benefit for individual genotypes

High fusibility and chimera prevalence in an invasive colonial ascidian

Fragmentation, Fusion, and Genetic Homogeneity in a Calcareous Sponge (Porifera, Calcarea)

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