Sexual reproduction can increase genetic variation but reduce species diversity
Thursday, March 8, 2012 - 17:00
in Biology & Nature
The role of sex in driving genetic variation and generating higher biodiversity has been debated for over a century. Speeding up evolution may increase genetic variation, but surprisingly it can reduce species diversity, according to a study led by Carlos J. Melian from Eawag Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Switzerland.