On recombination

Bull, Larry

Abstract

The predominant explanations for the inclusion of chromosomal recombination during meiosis are either that it serves as a mechanism for repair or for increased adaptability. However, neither gives a clear immediate selective advantage to the reproducing organism itself. This letter revisits the idea that sex emerged and is maintained because it enables a simple form of fitness landscape smoothing to explain why recombination evolved. Whilst recombination was originally included in the idea, as with the other explanations, no immediate benefit was identified. That a benefit exists if the dividing cell(s) form a simple colony of the resulting haploids for some time after reproduction is explored here and shown to further increase the benefits of the landscape smoothing process.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 26, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 11, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 18, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 11, 2024
• Journal: Artificial life
• Print ISSN: 1064-5462
• Electronic ISSN: 1530-9185
• Publisher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press (MIT Press)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/artl_a_00453
• Keywords: Baldwin effect; evolution; fitness landscape; meiosis; NK model; recombination
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12689897