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sex

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A collage of images related to cell fusion, viruses, fusexin proteins and cells.
sex

A Billion Years Before Sex, Ancient Cells Were Equipped for It

By Jake Buehler
February 16, 2022
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Molecular detective work is zeroing in on the origins of sexual reproduction. The protein tools for cell mergers seem to have long predated sex — so what were they doing?

Photograph of two female red deer, fighting with their front hooves.
evolution

Mating Contests Among Females, Long Ignored, May Shape Evolution

By Jake Buehler
August 2, 2021
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Showy male competitions over mating privileges have grabbed scientists’ attention more often, but new work hints that sexual selection is also widespread among females.

Portrait photo of Catherine Dulac of Harvard University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Q&A

Catherine Dulac Finds Brain Circuitry Behind Sex-Specific Behaviors

By Claudia Dreifus
December 14, 2020
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Catherine Dulac is overturning preconceptions about “male” and “female” instincts and opening new avenues to treating postpartum depression.

Insights puzzle

How to Design (or at Least Model) Mixed Dog Breeds

By Pradeep Mutalik
July 31, 2020
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Readers simulated the genetics of dog breeding to solve a puzzle about mixed breed percentages and sexual reproduction.

Insights puzzle

How to Breed a Pomsky and Other Questions About Dogs and Sex

By Pradeep Mutalik
June 18, 2020
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Solve a puzzle about mixed dog breeds, sexual reproduction and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Video of two slipper-shaped paramecia engaged in a sexual process called conjugation.
evolution

Why Sex? Biologists Find New Explanations.

By Christie Wilcox
April 23, 2020
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Why did sex evolve? Theories usually focus on the diversity of future generations, but some researchers find compelling explanations in the immediate benefits to individuals.

Photo of the female penis structure of the cave insect Neotrogla aurora.
Abstractions blog

Why Evolution Reversed These Insects’ Sex Organs

By Jordana Cepelewicz
January 30, 2019
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Among these cave insects, the females evolved to have penises — twice. The reasons challenge common assumptions about sex.

Abstractions blog

Why Nature Prefers Couples, Even for Yeast

By Jordana Cepelewicz
July 17, 2018
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Some species have the equivalent of many more than two sexes, but most do not. A new model suggests the reason depends on how often they mate.

During fertilization, eggs may play an unexpected role in choosing which sperm offer the best genetic match.
genetics

Choosy Eggs May Pick Sperm for Their Genes, Defying Mendel’s Law

By Carrie Arnold
November 15, 2017
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The oldest law of genetics says that gametes combine randomly, but experiments hint that sometimes eggs select sperm actively for their genetic assets.


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