Re: Re: Why Sex ?

CurtAdams (CurtAdams@aol.com)
Wed, 17 Dec 1997 19:09:28 EST


In a message dated 12/17/97 4:02:36 PM, geoffs@unixg.ubc.ca wrote:

>Also, sex can get rid of recessive genetic defects.

Meotic selfing, not sex, is best at getting rid of deleterious
recessives. In a selfing population with a lethal recessive
the incidence of the gene drops by nearly 1/2 every generation.
With sex, once the incidence gets low, the recessive almost
never manifests and it can exist until drift gets rid of it.

Sex is good at *hiding* deleterious recessives.