CAM Seminar – 03/28/19

Abstract: The vast majority of multi-cellular life on Earth reproduces sexually, such that offspring are produced via the exchange of genetic material between individuals of different mating types. The ubiquity of sexual reproduction in nature is a paradox because it breaks up combinations of alleles (genetic variants) favored by natural selection. Mathematical models have played an integral role in describing the conditions under which sexual reproduction is expected to evolve. Here I present two areas of my research that utilize mathematical models to understand the causes, as well as the consequences, of sexual reproduction. Using a deterministic model, I demonstrate that a previously unrecognized mechanism, antagonistic coevolution between the sexes, can favor higher rates of recombination - an important component of sexual reproduction. Second, using an analytical approach, I derive the expected levels of genetic diversity for male sperm protein, generating an appropriate null model for distinguishing between evolutionary hypotheses that have been proposed to account for the rapid evolution of male reproductive genes. These results highlight the importance of using a rigorous mathematical framework to study complex problems in evolutionary biology.