Evolution of Sexual Reproduction Essay

Submitted By m_Salus
Words: 2125
Pages: 9
Open Document
Why Having Sex is Beneficial
Abstract
Reproduction is the biological process by which new offsprings of individual organisms are produced. It is a fundamental process to life and organisms exist as the result of reproduction. Sexual and asexual reproductions are the two main types of reproduction. In asexual reproduction, an organism can reproduce without the involvement of another individual of its same species. Asexual reproduction is mostly limited to sing-celled organisms. On the contrary, sexual reproduction requires the fusion (combination) of two different individuals to form a gamete. This type of reproduction is mostly observed in multicellular organisms. Through evolution, sexual selection has been deemed more advantageous than asexual reproduction in a variety of situations. The advantage of sex is explained through the refutation of the sexual reproduction paradox, Red Queen’s Hypothesis, and Muller’s Rachet and its influence on the theories and evolution of sexual reproduction.
Introduction
Reproduction is essential for the survival and evolution of a species. It is through reproduction in which an individual passes on its genes to the next generation. Most multicellular species reproduce sexually where each parent contributes half of its genes to the offspring. This fusion of genes results in an offspring that is similar but also genetically different from their parents. The difference of genetic make-up between generations allows for sexually reproducing organisms to adapt more quickly to changing conditions in the niche (Futuyma, 2009). This increases the chances of these individuals to live long enough to reproduce and pass on their genes to the next generation, thus allowing them to have a greater influence on the genetic make-up of their species.
In contrast, asexual reproduction does not require the pairing of two different organisms to produce an offspring. Species with asexual reproduction (such as bacteria and protists) are able to pass on its complete genome to the next generation. Asexually reproducing species can establish a new colony/population faster than sexually reproducing species since it does not need a sexual partner to reproduce (Futuyma, 2009). However, since individuals that undergo asexual reproduction are genetically similar within a species, it takes longer for these populations to evolve in response to the changes around them which makes them more vulnerable to changes in climate or other agents that can wipe them out.
Today, all sexually reproducing organisms are derived from a common ancestor which was a single celled eukaryotic species. The evolution of sex mostly focuses on two themes: its origin and its maintenance. Studies have shown that sexual reproduction is maintained because it improves the quality of progeny in species. The great improvement of fitness from sexual reproduction is in the creation of genetic variation. Genetic variation proves to be incredibly advantageous in recombination DNA repair and in masking mutations through complementation. Recombination DNA repair is able to remove DNA damaged during meiosis and this allows for greater survival of the organism (Bert, 2000). Complementation in sexual reproduction is able to remove deleterious mutations quicker though masking the deleterious genes with either a normal dominant gene or through the elimination of the organism containing the deleterious genotype and exhibiting the deleterious function. Sex can also create new gene combinations that may be more fit than the preexisting ones and thus allow organisms to have a better survival and reproduction rates (Bert, 2000).
Refuting the Paradox of Sexual Reproduction
The common explanation of the existence of recombination and sex is that they increase the rate of adaptive evolution of a species in a constant or changing environment and thus reducing the risk of extinction. However, sex and recombination also have its disadvantages. One example is that
Show More

Related Documents: Evolution of Sexual Reproduction Essay

Human Physiology Paper

evolved and will continue to evolve. Humans have gotten taller, faster, and bigger over time which is evidence that humans are still evolving. I will be discussing the evolution of some of the main organs that has helped us survive over the last 200,000 years. The Evolution Of The Brain The brain has been a vital part of the evolution of humans. As humans evolved the human brain has tripled in size with most of its growth occurring in the past two million years. (Hawks, 2013) For the first two-thirds…

Words 886 - Pages 4

Gregor Mendel Worksheet

undergoing Darwinian evolution”-NASA exobiology team 2. Prokaryote: cell without nucleus Eukaryotic: cell with a nucleus Sexual reproduction: Two organisms produce one or more genetically unique organisms, Very rare, Pros: Children are genetically different from parent, Cons: Need two parents, Takes longer than asexual reproduction, children can have different traits from parents Asexual reproduction: One organism produces an identical organism, Common, Pros: Faster than sexual reproduction, parents will…

Words 389 - Pages 2

Genetics: Dna and Dna Molecules Essay

Code of Life Topic 1 - Genetic material Plants and animals have different cellular structures and so do different tissues and organs within the same organism. All cells have DNA, a membrane and cytoplasm. A cell's nucleus is a very important organelle. It controls all the processes within the cell. Some cells have a nucleus and some do not. All cells are divided into two large groups: cells with a nucleus, called eukaryotic cells, or simply eukaryotes; and cells without a nucleus, called prokaryotic…

Words 1796 - Pages 8

How Do Species Change Over Time To Survive In Different Environmental Conditions?

Unit Topic: Evolution Essential Question: How do species change over time to survive in different environmental conditions? Concept 4: Evidence of Evolution Objectives: Explain what phylogenetic trees represent and what we use them for. Diagram that biologists use use to predict the evolutionary relationships of organisms Classifies organisms into major taxa based in evolutionary relationships. Classifies species in the order in which they descended from a common ancestor using physical characteristics…

Words 481 - Pages 2

Hockey: Genetics and Polygenic Trait Essay

Name Class Date 17.1 Genes and Variation Lesson Objectives Define evolution in genetic terms. Identify the main sources of genetic variation in a population. State what determines the number of phenotypes for a trait. Lesson Summary Genetics Joins Evolutionary Theory Darwin’s original ideas can now be understood in genetic terms. Researchers discovered that traits are controlled by genes and that many genes have at least two forms, or alleles. The combination of different alleles…

Words 762 - Pages 4

Evolutionary Adaptation In The Red King

“The Red Queen” by Matt Ridley refers to the Queen in Alice in Wonderland who runs and runs but stays in the same place. She never gets any further because the world is moving with her. This is relate to coevolution because the evolution of sexual reproduction was inverted to keep changing to constantly mutating parasites and viruses, and evolutionary forces has shaped us as human being. Therefore sex allows to move forward. Cells first discovered how to cooperate and create something as complicated…

Words 316 - Pages 2

Essay on Biology 16 1 And 2 Notes

same gene occur. Often expressed as a percentage. Gene pools are important to evolutionary theory because evolution involves changes in populations over time. In genetic terms, evolution is any change in the relative frequency of alleles in a population. Sources of Genetic Variation The two main sources of genetic variation are mutations and genetic shuffling that results from sexual reproduction. Mutations Any change in a sequence of DNA. Can occur because of mistakes in the replication of DNA or as…

Words 1131 - Pages 5

Natural Selection Theory

Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection explains how complexity derived from simplicity. Life stemmed from a series of events, some simple and some complex. It is the act of atoms conjoining with one another in a chemical reaction to form molecules. There is a distinct selection of those stable forms of atoms, while the unstable forms are rejected. In order to determine how this complexity arose from simplicity researchers recreate the chemical conditions of young earth. They imitate these…

Words 1230 - Pages 5

Essay about Skin Pigmentation Notes

IN SCIENCE CASE TEACHING NOTES for “The Evolution of Human Skin Color” by Annie Prud’homme-Généreux, Life Sciences, Quest University, Canada INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND While the concept of evolution by natural selection is very simple, it is often misunderstood by students. This is partly due to preconceptions they have as well as a lack of understanding or emphasis on the idea that reproductive success (and not survival) is what matters to evolution. One way to ensure that students grasp this…

Words 2540 - Pages 11

Explain What Do Psychologists Mean By Theory Of Mind

adaptation. Evolution is a fact. Living species have changed or evolved over time. Evolutions are sometimes described as ‘survival of the fittest’. But this phrase is deceptive. It is reproduction, not survival, which is crucial. An individual that survives, but does not reproduce does not pass its genes onto the next generation. ‘Fittest’ describes how certain characteristics fit a particular environment. This essay will discuss the ‘Theory of Mind’ in accordance to the evolution of altruistic…

Words 1127 - Pages 5