Hybrid Sterility

Hybrid sterility occurs when two species mate and produce progeny that cannot attract mates, perform mating, or produce viable progeny. Not all species exhibit hybrid sterility when mated with another, but hybrid sterility is commonly detected among closely related organisms where cross-species mating is possible. Hybrid sterility is a major contributor to the formation of new species and thus the diversity of life on Earth. Multiple causes of hybrid sterility have been inferred, and genes contributing to hybrid sterility have been identified, yet researchers continue to struggle with understanding the specific mechanisms by which divergence within these genes cause sterility.

Duke Scholars

Author Mohamed A. F. Noor Biology