Abstract
Through fertilization (fusion of gametes), the most important consequence of sexual reproduction is the generation of novel genetic combinations in each generation. Although evolutionary speaking sexual reproduction is costly, it is the most frequent reproductive mode in the animal kingdom, presenting an evolutionary paradox. Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain this puzzle. These can be divided into two main approaches: “sexual reproduction producing good gene combinations” or “sexual reproduction being required to prevent the accumulation of bad genes. The causes and mechanisms of non-sexual reproductive modes in animals are almost as diverse as the animal world itself and are described here . Some asexual lineages have developed novel mechanisms to substitute sexual reproduction and mimic its evolutionary advantages; others are believed to be short-lived.
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