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The Significance of Sexual Reproduction on the Genetic Structure of Populations

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Population Genetics and Evolution

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Abstract

In recent years many investigations have been carried out to test the interdependence of the reproductive mode and the genetic structure of populations. It is generally considered that recombination by sexual reproduction is not necessarily advantageous in constant environments, but is of advantage under variable environmental conditions. Sexual reproduction can accelerate the evolutionary process because favourable mutations originating in different individuals can be combined (Fisher 1930; Muller 1932). In constant environments, however, the transition from sexuality to asexual reproduction is said to increase the fitness of populations (Maynard Smith 1978).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Populationsgenetik, Institut für Biologie II der Universität, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-7400, Tübingen, Germany

    K. Wöhrmann

Authors
  1. J. Tomiuk
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  2. K. Wöhrmann
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population and Evolutionary Biology, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, NL-3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Gerdina de Jong

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© 1988 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Tomiuk, J., Wöhrmann, K. (1988). The Significance of Sexual Reproduction on the Genetic Structure of Populations. In: de Jong, G. (eds) Population Genetics and Evolution. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73069-6_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73069-6_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-73071-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-73069-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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