Selfish Supergene Found to Drive Meiotic Bias in Drosophila

Fast Summary

• A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), volume 122, Issue 17 (April 2025), explores the process of meiosis-how cells divide to form eggs and sperm.
• Meiosis typically ensures equal transmission chances for chromosomes to offspring.However,researchers discovered “selfish” genetic elements that can manipulate this process to favor their own transmission.

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Indian Opinion Analysis
The findings on “selfish” genetic elements manipulating meiosis shed light on a previously lesser-known dimension of genetic inheritance within organisms. For India’s scientific landscape, advancing research in molecular biology and genetics could pave the way for deeper understanding of hereditary disorders or fertility-related challenges affecting human health and agriculture-a sector vital to its economy. Moreover, as India increasingly participates in global conversations around genomics ethics, discoveries such as these emphasize the importance of responsible scientific exploration without crossing ethical boundaries related to natural gene transmission processes.