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繁殖的普遍发生。许多理论模型显示了性行为的一些固有好处，然而这些模型所做的假设很少或根本没有经验数据。利用在寄生蜂赤眼蜂属中发现的一种新现象，我将在实验室的自然选择实验中研究有性繁殖和无性繁殖的适应意义，从而直接检验有性进化和维持性别的理论。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.