Asexual reproduction: genetics and evolutionary aspects.
Reproduction is essential to all organisms if they are to contribute to the next generation. There are various means and ways of achieving this goal. This review focuses on the role of asexual reproduction for eukaryotic organisms and how its integration in a life cycle can influence their population genetics and evolution. An important question for evolutionary biologists as to why some organisms reproduce sexually, as opposed to asexually, is addressed. We also discuss the economic and medical importance of asexual organisms.
de Meeûs
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Génétique et Evolution des Maladies Infectieuses, Equipe Evolution des Systèmes Symbiotiques, UMR IRD/CNRS 2724, BP 64501, 911 Av Agropolis, 34394, Montpellier Cedex 5, France. demeeus@mpl.ird.fr
Prugnolle
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Agnew
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D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual; D012723:Sex