Evolution: vertebrate reproductive strategies get mixed up.
The mangrove killifish is the only vertebrate known to have a mixed-mating strategy, where hermaphrodites reproduce by either self-fertilisation or cross-breeding. New molecular evidence from this species reveals that occasional cross-breeding between common hermaphroditic individuals and rare pure males results in an injection of genetic variation into otherwise highly homozygous 'clonal' lineages.
Molloy
Philip P
PP
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5C 1J9, Canada. pmolloy@sfu.ca <pmolloy@sfu.ca>
Gage
Matthew J G
MJ
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D023781:Fundulidae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007178:Inbreeding; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012744:Sex Ratio