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Sex differences in sand lizard telomere inheritance: Paternal epigenetic effects increases telomere heritability and offspring survival
Citation
Olsson, M and Pauliny, A and Wapstra, E and Uller, T and Schwartz, T and Blomqvist, D, Sex differences in sand lizard telomere inheritance: Paternal epigenetic effects increases telomere heritability and offspring survival, PLoS One, 6, (4) Article e17473. ISSN 1932-6203 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2011 Olsson, M et al.
Official URL: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.137...
DOI: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017473
Abstract
Background:To date, the only estimate of the heritability of telomere length in wild populations comes from humans. Thus,
there is a need for analysis of natural populations with respect to how telomeres evolve.
Methodology/PrincipalFindings:Here, we show that telomere length is heritable in free-ranging sand lizards, Lacerta agilis.
More importantly, heritability estimates analysed within, and contrasted between, the sexes are markedly different; son-sire
heritability is much higher relative to daughter-dam heritability. We assess the effect of paternal age on Telomere Length
(TL) and show that in this species, paternal age at conception is the best predictor of TL in sons. Neither paternal age per se
at blood sampling for telomere screening, nor corresponding age in sons impact TL in sons. Processes maintaining telomere
length are also associated with negative fitness effects, most notably by increasing the risk of cancer and show variation
across different categories of individuals (e.g. males vs. females). We therefore tested whether TL influences offspring
survival in their first year of life. Indeed such effects were present and independent of sex-biased offspring mortality and
offspring malformations.
Conclusions/Significance: TL show differences in sex-specific heritability with implications for differences between the
sexes with respect to ongoing telomere selection. Paternal age influences the length of telomeres in sons and longer
telomeres enhance offspring survival.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Population ecology |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Wapstra, E (Professor Erik Wapstra) |
| ID Code: | 69586 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 68 |
| Deposited By: | Zoology |
| Deposited On: | 2011-05-02 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-01 |
| Downloads: | 419 View Download Statistics |
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