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Origin of sex.

H Bernstein, H C Byerly, F A Hopf

    Journal of Theoretical Biology
    |October 5, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary

    Sexual reproduction originated early in life's evolution, driven by the need to repair genetic damage. This process, involving genetic recovery and recombinational repair, has a continuous evolutionary history.

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    Area of Science:

    • Evolutionary biology
    • Molecular evolution
    • Genetics

    Background:

    • Early life likely used RNA protocells for genetic material.
    • Genetic damage and replication failures posed significant evolutionary challenges.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the evolutionary origins and continuous history of sexual reproduction.
    • To explain the selective forces driving the development of genetic recovery mechanisms.

    Main Methods:

    • Theoretical modeling of early protocell evolution.
    • Comparative analysis of genetic repair mechanisms across different life forms.

    Main Results:

    • Early RNA protocells favored single genomes for maximal growth.
    • Periodic fusion of protocells provided a simple form of genetic recovery.
    • Duplex DNA led to the evolution of complex recombinational repair.
    • Recombination, essential for sexual reproduction, is maintained by repair advantages.

    Conclusions:

    • Sexual reproduction arose early in evolution and has an unbroken history.
    • Recombinational repair is a key factor maintaining sexual cycles in diverse organisms.
    • The advantages of DNA repair underpin both recombinational and outbreeding aspects of sex.

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