The enemies within: intergenomic conflict, interlocus contest evolution (ICE), and the intraspecific Red Queen

Different loci within the genome of a single species can potentially coevolve in a manner that is analogous to the Red Queen process among species. The major factor driving this antagonistic coevolution among loci is intergenomic conflict, i.e., discord between individuals that is mediated by two or more gene products that are derived from different gene loci. We conclude that antagonistic coevolution is common among loci that code for social interactions, and that it has broad evolutionary implications, especially in the context of speciation and sex chromosome evolution. Received: 15 January 1997 / Accepted after revision: 14 April 1997