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What is enantiotoky, and why doesn’t it exist?

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Abstract

Arrhenotoky, in which females arise from fertilized eggs and males from unfertilized eggs, has evolved multiple times in animals, most prominently in the insect order Hymenoptera. An alternative form of haplodiploidy, in which females are haploid and males diploid—here named enantiotoky—is not known to exist. An illustrated thought experiment shows that if it does evolve, it will be very unstable and is expected to disappear very quickly.

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Figure 1

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Acknowledgements

This essay arose out of discussion with Ross H. Crozier (1943–2009), to whom it is dedicated with respect and affection. Thanks to H. Don Cameron for designing the term enantiotoky, Nova Y. Starr for the figure, and Patrick Kennedy, Andrea E. A. Stephens and this journal’s reviewer for critical comments.

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  1. Caura Village, Trinidad and Tobago

    Christopher K. Starr

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  1. Christopher K. Starr
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Correspondence to Christopher K. Starr.

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Corresponding editor: H. A. Ranganath

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Starr, C.K. What is enantiotoky, and why doesn’t it exist?. J Genet 100, 17 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-021-01263-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-021-01263-9

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