Re: The "fuel" of evolution

From: Tim Tyler (tim_at_tt1lock.org)
Date: 11/30/04 

Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 00:41:06 +0000 (UTC)

Catherine Woodgold <an588@freenet.carleton.ca> wrote or quoted:

> Even if the parthenogenetic individuals average only 1.5
> fertile offspring each, they will tend to take over the whole
> population. [...]

Yes - all other things being equal.

However asexual reproduction affects other things besides how fast the
population can reproduce. In particular it affects the success rates of
parasites adapted to one individual in afflicting that individual's
friends and relatives.

...so in practice other things are rarely equal. 

-- 
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