Scientists reach hybrid sterility breakthrough

The study could help researchers better understand why hybrids generally die or are incapable of reproduction, such as most mules. It could also lead to progress in the battle against aging and hereditary diseases in humans, Leu, assistant research fellow in the Institute of Molecular Biology at Taiwan's top research institute, told the Central News Agency.

Leu and his team had previously found that one form of genetic incompatibility, known as a “nuclear-mitochondrial” mismatch or “cytonuclear incompatibility,” led to sterility between two yeast species.

But in this latest study, Leu wanted to find out if cytonuclear incompatibility is a common cause of reproductive isolation in yeasts in general.

They found two genes — MRS1 and AIM22 — responsible for the phenomenon, and also discovered that incompatibility occurred at different times in the different lineages over the course of yeast evolution, strong evidence supporting the speciation gene hypothesis.

Speciation describes the process for the creation of new species in which one type of organism evolves — most of the time by environmental factors — into two or more different species, Leu said, adding that a speciation gene is one that is involved in such a process.

“It will be interesting to see whether such mitochondrial-nuclear incapability is also involved in reproductive isolation in other organisms,” he said, adding that he planned to expand the study to include other species such as animals or plants.

The article, titled “Multiple Molecular Mechanisms Cause Reproductive Isolation between Three Yeast Species,” was published online in PLoS Biology on Tuesday, July 20.

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