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Genome Evolution of Asexual Organisms and the Paradox of Sex in Eukaryotes

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Evolutionary Biology—A Transdisciplinary Approach

Abstract

The predominance of sex in eukaryotes is still enigmatic. Sex, a composed process of meiosis and mixis cycles, confers high costs but the selective advantages remain unclear. In this review, we focus on potentially detrimental effects of asexuality on genome evolution. Theory predicts that asexual lineages should suffer from lack of meiotic DNA repair, accumulation of deleterious mutations, proliferation of transposable elements, among others. Here, we compare the different genomic features, life cycles, developmental pathways, and cytological mechanisms in the major eukaryotic groups, i.e., in protists, animals, fungi, and plants. In general, it is difficult to disentangle lineage-specific features from general features of asexuality. In all groups, forms of asexuality are predominantly facultative or cyclical. A variety of mixed or partial sexual developmental pathways exists, maintaining some components of sexuality, while obligate asexuality appears to be rare in eukaryotes. The strongest theoretical prediction for negative consequences of asexuality is decreased effectiveness of selection compared to sexuality. While some studies have shown increased rates of mutation accumulation in asexuals, others using whole-genome comparisons did not find this pattern. Various mechanisms exist that can alleviate the negative consequences of accumulation of negative mutations. More empirical data are needed to understand comprehensively the role of genome evolution for the maintenance of sex.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the editors, Marie-Hélène Rome and Pierre Pontarotti, for inviting us to contribute to this book, and one anonymous referee for valuable comments on the manuscript. The work on this chapter was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), projects 4395/4-1 and 4395/10-1 to E.H., BA 5800/3-1 to J.B., DU1319/5-1 to M.D., NO407/7-1 to M.N.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Elvira Hörandl

  2. Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 50674, Köln, Germany

    Jens Bast

  3. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Alexander Brandt & Stefan Scheu

  4. Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Anthropology & Zoology Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Goettingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Christoph Bleidorn

  5. Institut für Zoologie, Population genomics, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    Mathilde Cordellier

  6. Fakultät für Biologie und Biotechnologie Lehrstuhl für Molekulare und Zelluläre Botanik, Ruhr-University Bochum, ND 7/176, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany

    Minou Nowrousian

  7. Department of Evolution of Plants and Fungi, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44801, Bochum, Germany

    Dominik Begerow

  8. Institute of Mathematical Stochastics, University of Goettingen, Goldschmidtstr. 7, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Anja Sturm

  9. Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Koen Verhoeven

  10. Faculty of Biology, Department of Biodiversity, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, Germany

    Jens Boenigk

  11. Experimentelle Phykologie und Sammlung von Algenkulturen (EPSAG), University of Goettingen, Nikolausberger Weg 18, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Thomas Friedl

  12. Faculty of Biology Department of Eukaryotic Microbiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, Germany

    Micah Dunthorn

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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elvira Hörandl .

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  1. IHU Marseille MEPHI, Aix Marseille Univ IRD, APHM, Marseille, France

    Pierre Pontarotti

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Hörandl, E. et al. (2020). Genome Evolution of Asexual Organisms and the Paradox of Sex in Eukaryotes. In: Pontarotti, P. (eds) Evolutionary Biology—A Transdisciplinary Approach. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57246-4_7

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