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ASEXUALITY IS NOT A HANDICAP. “However, several recent observations challenge this view, since some organisms appear to be successful in the absence of sexual reproduction.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

ADDICTION MODULES. "Here, I present a general model for the role such viruses play in the evolution of host symbiosis. By considering how virus mixtures can participate in addiction modules, I provide a functional explanation for persistence of virus derived genetic ‘junk’ in their host genomic habitats." https://lnkd.in/d64vzSy View in LinkedIn

ASEXUAL LINEAGES. “Nevertheless, in a considerable proportion of eukaryotic lineages, no sexual cycle has ever been observed, e.g. in around 20% of all fungi, a kingdom that contains pathogens of animals and plants. Such lineages that lack a sexual cycle have been considered evolutionary dead-ends.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

VIRUSES, humans as descendants of these creatures. Interview with Dr Villarreal. https://youtu.be/3Ms04x6MvMY View in LinkedIn

SEXUAL DRIVERS OF VARIATION. “Before genetic information is transferred to the progeny, meiotic recombination generates novel combinations of existing alleles. It is therefore not surprising that meiotic recombination is considered an important driver for rapid adaptation of pathogens to their hosts.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

VIRUS CLASSIFICATION, a lovely chart summarizing the world of viruses. Only 22 families of viruses have been described. Eight are DNA viruses, the remaining 14 are RNA viruses. https://lnkd.in/duMh5jV View in LinkedIn

"SELFISH ELEMENTS make key contributions to evolutionary transitions at least at two levels. First, the parasite–host arms race leads to increased organizational complexity of biological systems, i.e. serving as a catalyst of evolutionary transitions. Second, viruses and mobile elements contribute specific genes that play major roles in the emergence of coherent wholes at a new level of complexity." https://lnkd.in/daxmUKR View in LinkedIn

TRANSITIONS DRIVEN BY VIRUSES. "I present evidence that, at least up to and including the origin of multicellularity, evolutionary transitions are driven by the coevolution of hosts with these genetic parasites along with sharing of ‘public goods’." https://lnkd.in/daxmUKR View in LinkedIn

EVOLUTIONARY TRANSITIONS. "The history of life is punctuated by evolutionary transitions which engender emergence of new levels of biological organization that involves selection acting at increasingly complex ensembles of biological entities. Major evolutionary transitions include the origin of prokaryotic and then eukaryotic cells, multicellular organisms and eusocial animals." https://lnkd.in/daxmUKR View in LinkedIn

UBIQUITOUS VIRAL PARASITES. "All or nearly all cellular life forms are hosts to diverse selfish genetic elements with various levels of autonomy including plasmids, transposons and viruses." https://lnkd.in/daxmUKR View in LinkedIn