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The Origin of Two Sexes Through Optimization of Recombination Entropy Against Time and Energy

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Abstract

Sexual reproduction in nature requires two sexes, which raises the question why the reproductive scheme did not evolve to have three or more sexes. Here we construct a constrained optimization model based on the communication theory to analyze trade-offs among reproductive schemes with arbitrary number of sexes. More sexes on one hand lead to higher reproductive diversity, but on the other hand incur greater cost in time and energy for reproductive success. Our model shows that the two-sexes reproduction scheme maximizes the recombination entropy-to-cost ratio, and hence is the optimal solution to the problem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA

    Bo Deng

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  1. Bo Deng
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Correspondence to Bo Deng.

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Deng, B. The Origin of Two Sexes Through Optimization of Recombination Entropy Against Time and Energy. Bull. Math. Biol. 69, 2105–2114 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-007-9215-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-007-9215-z

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