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Related Experiment Videos

Condition-dependent sex: who does it, when and why?

Yoav Ram1, Lilach Hadany2

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|September 14, 2016
PubMed
Summary
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Condition-dependent sex, where an organism's health influences sexual reproduction, offers evolutionary advantages, particularly for those in poor condition. This review explores its benefits for population survival and adaptability.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Reproductive Strategies
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Condition-dependent sex describes how an individual's physical state impacts their choice between sexual and asexual reproduction.
  • Recent research has explored this phenomenon through both theoretical modeling and empirical studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the existing evidence for condition-dependent sex.
  • To discuss its implications for population adaptability and long-term survival.
  • To explore reasons for its infrequent observation and potential generalizations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of theoretical and empirical studies on condition-dependent sex.
  • Analysis of findings in various organisms, including microbes, fungi, and plants.
Keywords:
abandon-shipevolution of sexfitness-associated recombinationsexual reproductionstress-induced variation

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Main Results:

  • Empirical data from microbes, fungi, and plants support theoretical predictions.
  • Negative condition-dependent sex (poor condition favors sexual reproduction) is evolutionarily advantageous in many scenarios.
  • Evidence suggests a significant role for condition-dependent sex in population adaptability.

Conclusions:

  • Condition-dependent sex can be a crucial factor in population survival and adaptation.
  • Further research is needed to understand why this strategy is not more widespread.
  • Generalizations of condition-dependent sex may apply even to organisms that exclusively reproduce sexually.