Genetic damage, mutation, and the evolution of sex

Science. 1985 Sep 20;229(4719):1277-81. doi: 10.1126/science.3898363.

Abstract

The two fundamental aspects of sexual reproduction, recombination and outcrossing, appear to be maintained respectively by the advantages of recombinational repair and genetic complementation. Genetic variation is produced as a by-product of recombinational repair, but it may not be the function of sexual reproduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • Chromosomes
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • DNA Repair*
  • Female
  • Genes, Lethal
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Reproduction
  • Sex Determination Analysis*