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ORIGINS. “Given the potential role of viruses in evolution, many are starting to question who we really are and where we came from.” (Thank you Paul Gaugin: D'où Venons Nous / Que Sommes Nous / Où Allons Nous). https://lnkd.in/guhpmyR View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE continues from last weekend on the role of viruses in evolution. While many dismiss viruses as non-living entities not worthy to be included in the tree of life, others contend, with strong evidence, that these creatures have played a key role in the evolution of life on this planet, including our own. Come and see what these non-living molecules have been up to. Are they the hand behind the wheel? View in LinkedIn

NEW CHAPTER. “Viruses gave rise to the first complex cells, and played a role in the diversification of life; changed the way that young are born; drove the wedge that separated us from our closest cousins; and may have given rise to complex emotion.” https://lnkd.in/guhpmyR View in LinkedIn

TESTING THE IMPACT. "We examine the variances in synchronous display of female and male function, ratio of male to female flowers per day and subsequently reproductive output in small populations of two monoecious plants, Sagittaria trifolia and Sagittaria graminea." https://lnkd.in/encXPYB View in LinkedIn

KEY ROLE. “Viruses played a fundamental role in evolution.” https://lnkd.in/guhpmyR View in LinkedIn

FEMALE IMPACT. "Flowering synchrony and floral sex ratio have the potential to influence the mating opportunities and reproductive success through female function." https://lnkd.in/encXPYB View in LinkedIn

US military agency invests $100m in genetic extinction technologies. Super-bad idea. View in LinkedIn

OPTIONS. "Contrasting with separate-sexed animals, simultaneous hermaphrodites display unique reproductive strategies as they are male and female at the same time. Simultaneous hermaphrodites that copulate unilaterally, for instance, make a decision to mate as a male or female." https://lnkd.in/eUYgBrA View in LinkedIn

SELFING AND OUTCROSSING. "Classical theory on mating system evolution suggests that simultaneous hermaphrodites should either outcross if they have high inbreeding depression (ID) or self-fertilize if they have low ID. However, a mixture of selfing and outcrossing persists in many species." https://lnkd.in/ehVZ44Z View in LinkedIn

DARWINIAN ADAPTATION. "Sex allocation theory is considered as a touchstone of evolutionary biology, providing some of the best supported examples for Darwinian adaptation." https://lnkd.in/eP698dz View in LinkedIn