Sex and Genetic Diversity
So it appears that both hypotheses are correct. Under most environmental conditions, sexually-reproducing populations rapidly replace asexually-reproducing populations of the same species. The advantage provided by sexual reproduction is evidently the great genetic diversity that results, making rapid evolutionary change possible.
More to the point, in most environments it is in an individual’s best interest to reproduce sexually, because by producing genetically-diverse offspring, the individual maximizes the chances that at least some of its offspring will survive. In changeable, unpredictable environments, the genetic diversity that results from sexual reproduction maximizes the probability that some offspring will happen to inherit gene combinations that make them well-suited to future conditions – whatever those might be.
In environments where their offspring will have to avoid predators, capture prey, fend off parasites, or find hosts to parasitize – and let’s face it, that’s pretty-much every environment – it’s also in an individual’s best interest to produce genetically-diverse offspring. Again, this maximizes the chances that at least some of those offspring will happen to inherit gene combinations that make them well-suited to dealing with the other species with which they will interact.
|
 Contents |
|
 Article Tools |
|
 Featured Articles |
|
|
|
|