| The evolution of menstruation: A new model for genetic assimilation: Explaining molecular origins of maternal responses to fetal invasiveness. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22057551 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Why do humans menstruate while most mammals do not? Here, we present our answer to this long-debated question, arguing that (i) menstruation occurs as a mechanistic consequence of hormone-induced differentiation of the endometrium (referred to as spontaneous decidualization, or SD); (ii) SD evolved because of maternal-fetal conflict; and (iii) SD evolved by genetic assimilation of the decidualization reaction, which is induced by the fetus in non-menstruating species. The idea that menstruation occurs as a consequence of SD has been proposed in the past, but here we present a novel hypothesis on how SD evolved. We argue that decidualization became genetically stabilized in menstruating lineages, allowing females to prepare for pregnancy without any signal from the fetus. We present three models for the evolution of SD by genetic assimilation, based on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of endometrial differentiation and implantation. Testing these models will ultimately shed light on the evolutionary significance of menstruation, as well as on the etiology of human reproductive disorders like endometriosis and recurrent pregnancy loss. |
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Authors:
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Deena Emera; Roberto Romero; Günter Wagner |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-11-7 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology Volume: - ISSN: 1521-1878 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Nov |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-11-7 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8510851 Medline TA: Bioessays Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2011 WILEY Periodicals, Inc. |
Affiliation:
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Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. deena.emera@yale.edu. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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