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Testing mutational explanations of sexual reproduction

Reference	G07097
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Andrew Read
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Nicholas Barton, Professor Mark Viney
Institution	University of Edinburgh
Department	Inst of Cell, Animal and Population Biol
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	203,665
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	10/03/1997
End date	10/11/2000
Duration	44 months

Abstract

The widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction is a major challenge for evolutionary biology: asexual females produce twice as many daughters as sexual females. The elimination of deleterious mutations may be a crucial selective benefit to sex. Using chemical mutagenesis and fitness assays of a facultatively sexual parasitic nematode, we will test the assumptions of a major class of mutation models. Specifically, we will determine whether mutations act synergistically and whether sex more efficiently reduces mutation load. In addition, we will determine whether the fitness consequences of deleterious mutations and antagonistic co-evolution by hosts (acquired protective immunity) interact to maintain sex.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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