The Evolution of SexThe question of why organisms reproduce sexually is still a matter of controversy. In this account, Professor Maynard Smith considers the selective forces responsible for the origin and evolution of sexual reproduction and genetic recombination, using quantitative population genetics arguments to support his ideas. The relative importance of individual and group selection processes are also considered. the aim is to give a clear statement of the theoretical issues, and present enough of the evidence to show what kinds of facts are relevant. It is hoped that where crucial evidence is missing, experimentalists and field workers may be encouraged to collect the relevant data. The author does not claim to solve all the problems he raises, but this clear and well-argued account should provide stimulating reading for advanced undergraduate students and research workers in evolutionary theory. |
Contents
3 | 33 |
Preamble | 72 |
Shortterm advantages for sex and recombination I | 89 |
B Spatial variation of the environment | 96 |
Environmental unpredictability the evidence from | 108 |
8 | 124 |
9 | 146 |
Sexual selection | 168 |
Mutation | 188 |
| 195 | |
| 211 | |
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Common terms and phrases
adapted alleles allocation animals apomictic apomixis arise asexual population automictic behaviour breeding Chapter chiasma chromosome clones conclusion deleterious mutations dimorphism dioecious dioecy diploid discussed Drosophila ecological effect environment environmental evolutionarily stable evolutionary evolve example facultative favourable mutations feature Felsenstein fertilisation Figure finite population gametes genes genetic recombination genetic variance genome genotype go extinct group selection haploid hermaphrodite heterozygotes higher recombination Hill-Robertson effect hitch-hiking homozygosity hybrid inbreeding increase in frequency increased recombination individual lag load Lewontin linkage disequilibrium linkage equilibrium loci locus male and female mating Maynard Smith mean fitness meiosis monoecy Muller's ratchet mutation rate natural populations occurs offspring optimal outcrossing pair parent parthenogenetic parthenogenetic varieties plants pollen polymorphism produce ratchet seeds selection favouring selective advantage selective forces self-compatibility selfing sex ratio sexual and asexual sexual population sexual reproduction sexual species short-term advantage sib competition simulations suggested suppose survival thelytokous tion Trivers twofold advantage
Popular passages
Page 198 - O. 1971. Reproduction and the mechanism of meiotic restitution in the parthenogenetic lizard Cnemidophorus uniparens. J. Morphol., 133:139-166.
Page 196 - Gilbert, JJ, 1971: Parthenogenesis in rotifers: The control of sexual and asexual reproduction.
Page 196 - Breder, CM. & Rosen, DE (1966). Modes of Reproduction in Fishes. New York: Natural History Press.
Page 197 - Modification of recombination frequency in Drosophila. II. The polygenic control of crossing over. Genetics 69: 85-96.
Page 197 - Cox, EC 1976. Bacterial mutator genes and the control of spontaneous mutation. Annu. Rev. Genet.