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Science 14 April 2006:
Vol. 312. no. 5771, p. 155
DOI: 10.1126/science.312.5771.155j
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To ensure the reproductive success of a species at fertilization, egg and sperm must be compatible. In field studies with the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, Levitan and Ferrell (p. 267) examine the selective factors that shape highly polymorphic bindin gamete recognition proteins involved in species specificity. The reproductive success of males was greatest with common genotypes relative to rare genotypes; however, females with common genotypes had half the reproductive success of females with rare genotypes. In addition, common bindin alleles are selected with low sperm densities, but rare bindin alleles are selected with high densities. The interaction between spawning density and genotype frequency provides insight into why different species evolve at different rates.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)