An extinct vertebrate preserved by its living hybridogenetic descendant. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dubey, Sylvain; Dufresnes, Christophe
• Is Part Of: Scientific reports. Volume 7:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Natural history -- Research -- Periodicals; Biology -- Research -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 502.85
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12942-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-2322

Abstract

Abstract Hybridogenesis is a special mode of hybrid reproduction where one parental genome is eliminated and the other is transmitted clonally. We propose that this mechanism can perpetuate the genome of extinct species, based on new genetic data fromPelophylax water frogs. We characterized the genetic makeup of Italian hybridogenetic hybrids (P . kl.hispanicus andesculentus ) and identified a new endemic lineage of Eastern-Mediterranean origin as one parental ancestor ofP . kl.hispanicus . This taxon is nowadays extinct in the wild but its germline subsists through its hybridogenetic descendant, which can thus be considered as a "semi living fossil". Such rare situation calls for realistic efforts of de-extinction through selective breeding without genetic engineering, and fuels the topical controversy of reviving long extinct species. "Ghost" species hidden by taxa of hybrid origin may be more frequent than suspected in vertebrate groups that experienced a strong history of hybridization and semi-sexual reproduction.