So why did sex evolve anyway?

Despite the obvious benefits of sex, it's an activity that's biologically disadvantageous under most conditions. Now, a new study published online today (13 October) in Nature helps explain why sex may have evolved, despite its downside. Specifically, the paper tracked a eukaryote for nearly 100 generations and found that the species was more likely to switch from asexual to sexual reproduction if it encountered varying physical settings, suggesting sex may help species adapt to diverse environments. "The paper is an outstanding breakthrough," evolutionary biologist Sally Otto of the University of British Columbia told The Scientist. "It's the first study to track -- in real time -- the evolution of sex in a multicellular eukaryote, finding that higher rates of sex evolve in a spatially complex environment," said Otto, who was not involved in the research. The evolution of sex has long puzzled biologists, as its disadvantages seem to outweigh its benefits in most situations. When an organism reproduces asexually, for example, it passes on 100 percent of its genetic information to the next generation. A sexually reproducing organism, on the other hand, only passes on half its genes -- a huge evolutionary cost...more

37 years ago and to wide acclaim, Rancho DuBois was officially designated a "spatially complex environment."

More than 37 years ago and also to wide acclaim, Rancho DuBois assisted many in adapting to diverse environments as they wandered along the evolutionary path.

I had hoped to share those earlier research findings with you, but Sweet Sharon just advised that should I choose to do so, I might as well revert to being an asexual organism.

After much careful thought I have decided those particular research results will remain unpublished.