Investigating role of mitochondrial DNA in mate harm resistance.

Abstract

The variation in mitochondrial DNA, thought to be neutral for the long time, has intrigued interest in recent times with results showing positive effects of selection on them. Mitochondrial genome in tandem with nuclear genome is now known to have effects on life history traits of the organism. To further understand the role of mitochondrial genome in interlocus sexual conflict, the MN lines were setup in the lab using the mitochondrial genome from the selection regimes under different levels of sexual conflict. Mitochondrial DNA from these regimes was expressed in the common nuclear background. In this experiment we access the role of mitochondrial genome in mate harm resistance ability of the females from the selected lines. From previous work, we know that females selected under higher sexual conflict, have better mate harm resistance ability when compared to females from lower sexual conflict regime.