Amazon fish challenges mutation idea

[Tank]

Amazon fish challenges mutation idea

Evolutionary theory suggests that species favouring asexual reproduction will rapidly become extinct, as their genomes accumulate deadly mutations over time.

But a study on an Amazon fish has cast doubt on the rapidity of this decline.

Despite thousands of years of asexual reproduction, the genomes of the Amazon molly fish are remarkably stable and the species has survived.

Details of the work have been published in Nature Ecology and Evolution...

The Theory of Evolution continues to evolve.

[Dave]

Interesting, but I'm dtill not dure asexual reprofucyion will really cstch on . . .

Is it a sign of the times that on seeing the word "Amazon" my mind flipped to the retailer (with some surprise) rather than the river? Or because I had just been looking for something on their website?

[OldGit]

We need a recipe for those.

[Bluenose]

The interesting thing about this fish is that it is actually a hybrid.  It seems that what is usually called hybrid vigour is a factor in its ability to continue without the expected accumulation of genetic error building up.  It occurred to me, however, that maybe the reason this appears to be happening is that new hybrids are being produced from fish of normal, sexually reproducing fish of the "parent" specie, thus giving the illusion of a stable, asexually reproducing population.  I mean, it is reproducing asexually, but the new hybrids are performing the "editing" of errors in the genome that natural selection usually does.  If you know what I mean.

[jumbojak]

We need a recipe for those.

Split down the back after scaling and lightly sautée in olive oil. Finish whth wilted spinach and a brown butter sace.