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Molecular phylogenetics of Trichonympha cf. collaris and a putative pyrsonymphid: the relevance to the orgin of sex

University of British Columbia

Why sex evolved is one of the central questions in evolutionary genetics. To address this question I have undertaken a molecular phylogenetic study of two candidate lineages to determine the first sexual line. In my thesis the hypermastigotes are confirmed as closely related to the trichomonads in the phylum Parabasalia and found to be more deeply divergent than a putative pyrsonymphid. This means that the Parabasalia are the first sexual lineage. From this I go on to infer that the ancestral sexual cycle included facultative sex. The relevance of these inferences is then examined with respect to the current theories on the origin of sex.

Thesis/Dissertation

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2009-05-04

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/7848

Zoology

University of British Columbia

UBCV

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