title: Evolution of fungal sexual reproduction.
abstract: We review here recent advances in our understanding of the genetic, molecular and genomic basis of sex determination and sexual reproduction in the fungal kingdom as a window on the evolution of sex in eukaryotes more generally. In particular, we focus on the evolution of the mating-type locus and transitions in modes of sexual reproduction using examples from throughout the kingdom. These examples illustrate general principles of the origins of mating-type loci/sex chromosomes and the balance between inbreeding and outcrossing afforded by different modes of sexual reproduction involving tetrapolar, bipolar and unipolar sexual cycles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heitman
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Timothy Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D010802:Phylogeny; D012098:Reproduction