Divergence in the internal genital morphology of females and correlated divergence in male intromittent structures among populations of a millipede. 2023

Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.

Our understanding of genital evolution comes largely from studies of male genitalia. Females have received far less attention because of the difficulties inherent in quantifying the shapes of their internal genital structures. Here we combine advances in micro-computed tomography with a new landmark free method of quantifying three-dimensional trait shape, to document patterns of divergence in female genital shape, and the correlated divergence of male genitalia among populations of the millipede Antichiropus variabilis. We used single-nucleotide polymorphisms to estimate levels of neutral genetic divergence among seven populations of millipede. Genetic divergence was high and correlated with geographic distance. Comparing phenotypic divergence in genital shape to neutral genetic divergence, we found that genital shape for both females and males has diverged more than would be expected from random drift, consistent with a pattern of directional selection. While there was significant covariation between female and male genital shape across populations, the magnitude of divergence in genital shape between the sexes was not correlated. Our results demonstrate the utility of using three-dimensional scanning technologies to examine female genital traits and add to a small but growing number of studies showing that like male genitalia, female genitalia can be under strong directional selection.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D005075 Biological Evolution The process of cumulative change over successive generations through which organisms acquire their distinguishing morphological and physiological characteristics. Evolution, Biological
D005260 Female Females
D005835 Genitalia The external and internal organs involved in the functions of REPRODUCTION. Accessory Sex Organs,Genital Organs,Sex Organs, Accessory,Genital System,Genitals,Reproductive Organs,Reproductive System,Accessory Sex Organ,Genital,Genital Organ,Genital Systems,Organ, Accessory Sex,Organ, Genital,Organ, Reproductive,Organs, Accessory Sex,Organs, Genital,Organs, Reproductive,Reproductive Organ,Reproductive Systems,Sex Organ, Accessory,System, Genital,System, Reproductive,Systems, Genital,Systems, Reproductive
D005836 Genitalia, Female The female reproductive organs. The external organs include the VULVA; BARTHOLIN'S GLANDS; and CLITORIS. The internal organs include the VAGINA; UTERUS; OVARY; and FALLOPIAN TUBES. Accessory Sex Organs, Female,Sex Organs, Accessory, Female,Genital Organs, Female,Genitals, Female,Reproductive System, Female,Female Genital,Female Genital Organ,Female Genital Organs,Female Genitalia,Female Genitals,Female Reproductive System,Female Reproductive Systems,Genital Organ, Female,Genital, Female,Reproductive Systems, Female
D005837 Genitalia, Male The male reproductive organs. They are divided into the external organs (PENIS; SCROTUM; and URETHRA) and the internal organs (TESTIS; EPIDIDYMIS; VAS DEFERENS; SEMINAL VESICLES; EJACULATORY DUCTS; PROSTATE; and BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS). Accessory Sex Organs, Male,Genital Organs, Male,Sex Organs, Accessory, Male,Genitals, Male,Reproductive System, Male,Genital, Male,Male Genital,Male Genital Organs,Male Genitalia,Male Genitals,Male Reproductive System,Male Reproductive Systems,Reproductive Systems, Male
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D055114 X-Ray Microtomography X-RAY COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY with resolution in the micrometer range. MicroCT,Microcomputed Tomography,X-Ray Micro-CAT Scans,X-Ray Micro-CT,X-Ray Micro-CT Scans,X-Ray Micro-Computed Tomography,X-Ray Microcomputed Tomography,X-ray MicroCT,Xray Micro-CT,Xray MicroCT,Micro-CAT Scan, X-Ray,Micro-CAT Scans, X-Ray,Micro-CT Scan, X-Ray,Micro-CT Scans, X-Ray,Micro-CT, X-Ray,Micro-CT, Xray,Micro-CTs, X-Ray,Micro-CTs, Xray,Micro-Computed Tomography, X-Ray,MicroCT, X-ray,MicroCT, Xray,MicroCTs,MicroCTs, X-ray,MicroCTs, Xray,Microcomputed Tomography, X-Ray,Microtomography, X-Ray,Scan, X-Ray Micro-CAT,Scan, X-Ray Micro-CT,Scans, X-Ray Micro-CAT,Scans, X-Ray Micro-CT,Tomography, Microcomputed,Tomography, X-Ray Micro-Computed,Tomography, X-Ray Microcomputed,X Ray Micro CAT Scans,X Ray Micro CT,X Ray Micro CT Scans,X Ray Micro Computed Tomography,X Ray Microcomputed Tomography,X Ray Microtomography,X ray MicroCT,X-Ray Micro-CAT Scan,X-Ray Micro-CT Scan,X-Ray Micro-CTs,X-ray MicroCTs,Xray Micro CT,Xray Micro-CTs,Xray MicroCTs
D019143 Evolution, Molecular The process of cumulative change at the level of DNA; RNA; and PROTEINS, over successive generations. Molecular Evolution,Genetic Evolution,Evolution, Genetic

Related Publications

Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
February 2013, Ecology and evolution,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
October 2013, Journal of evolutionary biology,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
January 2020, Arthropod structure & development,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
October 1897, Journal of anatomy and physiology,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
January 2015, Arthropod structure & development,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
August 1994, Evolution; international journal of organic evolution,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
December 1985, British journal of urology,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
August 2021, Parasitology international,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
May 2007, PloS one,
Nadia S Sloan, and W Jason Kennington, and Leigh W Simmons
July 2011, Nature communications,
Copied contents to your clipboard!