Abstract
The transfer of genes from one organism to another by sexual contact is the essence of inheritance and a major player in evolution. Sex has been going on for a long time—at least 2 or 3 billion years if the behavior of present-day microorganisms is an indication of what happened soon after the dawn of life. The practice was retained throughout evolutionary history, and with relatively few exceptions, became the predominant feature of reproduction in the lives of all higher animals, especially vertebrates. Sex, that is, the transfer of genes from male to female and subsequent transfer to progeny, is apparently an irrevocable part of reproduction, inheritance, and evolution of mammals.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Kenneth Maxwell
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Maxwell, K. (1994). Epilogue. In: The Sex Imperative. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-5988-1_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-5988-1_20
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-44649-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-5988-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive