Why did Nature evolve sex?

I don’t believe nature evolved sex. (shrug)

I think it has something to do with complexity. Bacteria remain asexual and highly successful because it works for them and other single celled stuff. But complexity probably requires some mechanism for trying different combinations, and with the longer repoductive cycles of complex lifeforms, it can only be accomplished by mixing genes. In that sense, it allows more complex creatures to adapt easier, something that single celled organisms can do asexually.

@ETpro I understand what people mean by ‘Higher’ life forms in general, but what do you mean here specifically?

Great Q btw. The question has my head spinning as to possible answers and I want to think it through a little.

@incendiary_dan I can see the point in that. Allowing more diversication of the gene pool means that when environments suddenly change, as they are wont to do from time to tiome, at least some of the organisms around will be able to adapt to the new conditions.

@digitalimpression I should have spent some time explaining that. I’m not using it as a value judgement. Every life form is part of the unique and mysterous chain that makes all life on Earth possible. But evolutionary biologixtx use the term to point to life forms that are well up the evolutionary chain. And outside the plant kingdom, the thrips are the only evolved animal (albiet insect) that are even capable of asexual reproduction). And even those tiny buggers are smart wnough ton prefer the sexual route if a partner is available.

Because shuffling the gene pool gave some individuals enhanced abilities (and sadly also made disabilities possible), which led to a diversity of species and a diversity of characteristics within a species.

Have you ever seen a rabbit have an orgasm?
They got pretty lucky too. lol

Yep, they scream and fall over stunned. haha

@Coloma :: Dog did a bunny image in photoshop for me a long time ago. It seems applicable here.

She’s a demented pervert?

If a species self propagated it would more than likely die off very quickly as it’s gene pool/immune systems would be very similar within the species and very vulnerable to viral attack.

The interaction between partners and typically partners outside the immediate family is regulated by the laws of attraction which ensures an animal/mammal is attracted to a mate outside its respective gene pool. It is a genetic fail-safe that ensures that a sufficient percentage of a species mates and breeds outside its gene pool to again insure the survival of a species by having genes and immune systems that are NOT alike and raising the odds at least a handful will survive a viral attack.

Look to the Spanish Flu of 1911 for tragic examples of isolated remote villages of Indians and Eskimos where the entire populations were wiped out by the flu because there was no global diversity to their immune systems within their indigenous populations.

As @incendiary_dan said its for diversity in the gene pool. Bacterium can get by with asexual reproduction due to their lack of complexity but for us to have even evolved in the first place its required. I saw a really good program on TV recently that explained this all much better lol. This question was also asked 2 months ago and as per usual Qingu explained something amazingly over here

ET followed up with me in PM (he is very nice!).

@uberbatman is right Qingu has some wonderful detail in that thread @ETpro, and it is amazing. I am not going to try and top it at this point along with the good answers you received here.

@HungryGuy That makes sense. Thanks.

@Coloma In fact I have not seen that, but you have added another must do to my bucket list. :-)

@Cruiser Excellent point. Both viral infection resistance and resistance to various parasites is enhances by sexual reproduction. Which begs my next question. ow can I rationalize that into a compelling argument for getting more nooky here at home?

@uberbatman Thanks for the link. As usual, the search tool failed to turn up that similar thread. You’re right. Quingo laid out the likely evolutionary progression from beautifully from mitosis through parthenogenesis to fell sexual reproduction.

@Imadethisupwithnoforethought Thanks.

Allows for greater genetic diversity.

@johnpowel
Haha that image, perfect depiction!
It’s true, the male rabbit just lies there in a trance for a few minutes, not too far off from a human male. lol

@ETpro It’s amusing if you get the chance to witness it.