The Emergence of Sex

Ursula Goodenough; Ursula Goodenough

doi:10.1111/j.1467-9744.2007.00877.x

Research Articles
The Emergence of Sex

Abstract

Biological traits, the foci of natural selection, are by definition emergent from the genes, proteins, and other “nothing‐buts” that constitute them. Moreover, and with the exception of recently emergent “spandrels,” each can be accorded a teleological dimension—each is “for” some purpose conducive to an organism's continuation. Sex, which is “for” the generation of recombinant genomes, may be one of the most ancient and ubiquitous traits in biology. In the course of its evolution, many additional traits, such as gender and nurture, have emerged. Patterns of sexual exchange are the basis for patterns of biological evolution and are central to the process of eukaryotic speciation. Human sexuality is central to our selves.

Keywords

recombination, sexuality, gender, evolution, speciation, sex, death

How to Cite

Goodenough, U., (2007) “The Emergence of Sex”, Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 42(4), 857–872. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2007.00877.x

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References

Baldauf, Sandra L., D.Bhattacharya, J.Cockrill, P.Hugenholtz, J.Pawlowski, and A. G. B.Simpson2004. “The Tree of Life: An Overview ,” in Assembling the Tree of Life, ed. J.Cracraft and M. J.Donoghue, 43–75. New York : Oxford Univ, Press.

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Goodenough, Ursula1998. The Sacred Depths of Nature New York : Oxford Univ. Press.

Miller, Geoffrey2001. The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature Garden City , N.Y. : Anchor/Doubleday.

Papke, R. Thane, Jeremy E.Koenig, FranciscoRodriguez‐Valero, and W.Ford Doolittle2004. “Frequent Recombination in a Saltern Population of Halorubrum. Science 306:1928–29.

Sherman, Jeremy, and Terrence W.Deacon2007. “Teleology for the Perplexed: How Matter Began to Matter. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 42:873–901.

Stanley, Steven M.1975. “Clades versus Clones in Evolution: Why We Have Sex. Science 190:382.

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Ursula Goodenough (Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science)

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Volume 42 • Issue 4 • December 2007

Publication details

Pages	857–872

Dates

Published	2007-12-01

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2007.00877.x

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