Clonality The Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution of Sexual Abstinence in Vertebrate Animals

About this book

Approximately 99.9% of vertebrate species reproduce sexually. The exceptional 0.1% reproduce via asexual or clonal means, which vary wildly and are fascinating in their own right. In Clonality: The Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution of Sexual Abstinence in Vertebrate Animals, John C. Avise describes the genetics, ecology, natural history, and evolution of the world's approximately 100 species of vertebrate animal that routinely display one form or another of clonal or quasi-clonal reproduction.

By considering the many facets of sexual abstinence and clonal reproduction in vertebrate animals, Avise sheds new light on the biological meaning and ramifications of standard sexuality.

Contents

Preface

PART I. BACKGROUND: LIKE BEGETS LIKE

1: CLONALITY WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL
Clonality at the Gene Level: DNA Replication
Clonality at the Genomic Level: Mitosis
Clonality in the Cellular Cytoplasm: Mitochondrial DNA
Clonality in the Sex Chromosomes
Clonality Across the Somatic Cells

2: SEXUALITY: THE ANTITHESIS OF CLONALITY
Sex at the Inter-chromosomal Level: Meiosis, Syngamy, and Mendels Laws
Sex at the Intra-chromosomal Level: DNA Recombination Via Crossing Over
Recombination Versus Mutation as Sources of Genetic Variation
The Paradox of Sex
Sex and Death
Cellular Autonomy and Immortality
Synopsis
Summary of Part I

PART II. UNISEXUAL CLONALITY IN NATURE

3: REPRODUCTION BY THE CHASTE: PARTHENOGENESIS
The Cast of Players
Cellular and Genetic Mechanisms
Evolution and Phylogeny
Comparative Ecology and Natural History

4: RERODUCTION BY THE SEMI-CHASTE: GYNOGENESIS, HYBRIDOGENESIS, AND KLEPTOGENESIS
The Cast of Players
Cellular and Genetic Mechanisms
Evolution and Phylogeny
Comparative Ecology and Natural History
Summary of Part II

PART III. SEXUAL CLONALITY IN NATURE

5: CLONALITY IN UTERO: POLYEMBRYONY
The Cast of Players
Genetic and Embryological Mechanisms
Ecology and Evolution

6: CLONALITY BY INCEST: HERMAPHRODITIC SELF-FERTILIZATION
The Cast of Players
Genetic and Reproductive Mechanisms
Evolution and Ecology
Summary of Part III

PART IV. CLONALITY IN THE LABORATORY

7: HUMAN-SPONSORED CLONALITY
Gene Cloning
Whole-individual Cloning by Quasi-natural Mechanisms
Whole-individual Cloning by Mechanisms Unknown in Nature
Summary of Part IV

Epilogue
Glossary

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