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Here is an article in the NY times about a species of round worm which evolved from having males and females to having self-fertilizing hermaphrodites.
This released from selective pressure many genes involved in being male and male reproduction. They acquired random mutations until the decayed away over generations. About 1/4 of the genome (7,000 genes) was lost.
Quite a genetic load to carry around and maintain a system of sexual recombination.
This released from selective pressure many genes involved in being male and male reproduction. They acquired random mutations until the decayed away over generations. About 1/4 of the genome (7,000 genes) was lost.
Quite a genetic load to carry around and maintain a system of sexual recombination.