Genetics and Genomics of an Unusual Selfish Sex Ratio Distortion in an Insect (Current Biology)

Selfish genetic elements can have profound effects on genome architecture and evolution. In Liposcelis booklice, Hamilton et al. find that sex ratio distortion and biased transmission of maternal genes have led to an unusual chimeric genome in distorter females. A gene acquired from the reproductive parasite Wolbachia may contribute to distortion.