Sex, parthenogenesis and adaptation: a novel laboratory 'natural selection' experiment testing the adaptive significance of sexual and asexual reproduction.

进化生物学面临的最大挑战之一是解释有性生殖的广泛发生。许多理论模型显示了性的一些内在好处，但是这些模型假设很少或根本没有经验数据。利用寄生蜂赤眼蜂属中发现的一种新现象，我将在实验室自然选择实验中研究有性和无性生殖的适应意义，从而直接检验性别进化和维持的理论。这将是第一次在高等生物体中进行这样的测试。

One of the greatest challenges for evolutionary biology is explaining the widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction. Many theoretical models show some inherent benefits of sex, however these models make assumptions that little or no empirical data exists for. Using a novel phenomenon found in the parasitoid wasp genus Trichogramma, I will investigate the adaptive significance of sexual and asexual reproduction in a laboratory natural selection experiment and therefore directly test the theory for the evolution and maintenance of sex. This will be the first such test in a higher organism.