CMS
Ingvarsson PK & Taylor DR 2002 Genealogical evidence for epidemics of selfish genes. PNAS 99:11265-11269.
- evolution of cytoplasmic male sterility has been characterized by frequent turnovers of mutations in natural populations, thus supporting an epidemic model for the evolution of selfish genes, where new mutations repeatedly arise and rapidly sweep through populations
- a wide variety of genetic elements that spread infectiously in populations exist
- they have a replication advantage over other genes in the genome
- these are often called selfish genetic elements because their transmission advantage permits them to spread even when they are neutral or detrimental to the fitness of individuals that carry them
