Talk:Segregation distortion

Is segregation distortion the same as meiotic drive? I think it is: http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Meiotic_drive. Should I update the Wikipedia?

Description is not understandable, I have cut out "that" but still this the distortion is not explained. "When the fly has the segregation distorter gene, the two cells do not have the gene malfunction; thus all the sperm produced by that fly carries the SD+ gene".

This sentence "When the fly has the segregation distorter gene, the two cells do not have the gene malfunction; thus all the sperm produced by that fly carries the SD+ gene" doesn't really make sense - to what 'two cells' is it referring?

I agree that the quoted sentence doesn't make much sense, the 'two cells' refer to the gametes that do or do not carry the driver allele, I believe. There is a controversy on names (see my comments in the 'intragenomic conflicts' section) because they relate to very different mechanisms, and most authors suggest the name "transmission ration distortion" should be the generic one. But in practice and in the general litterature in population genetics, meiotic drive or segregation distortion are quite synonymous.

I agree this should me merged with meiotic drive in the section for intragenomic conflicts. Actually this article gives too much empasis on the particular case of the SD system in drosophila, whereas there are many other cases. So in any case, if an article on segregation distortion/meiotic drive is kept apart from the general case of 'intragenomic conflicts', it should thus be much more general and explain the several classes of driver, with their mechanisms and main dynamical properties.

SeluiSelui 10:15, 13 July 2006 (UTC)