Fungal sex can generate new drug resistant, virulent strains
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 10:00
in Biology & Nature
Sex between genetically identical organisms has been found to create genetic changes and diversity where it did not previously exist. Studies of a fungus called Cryptococcus showed the process of sexual reproduction can result in extra copies of chromosomes that can be beneficial to the organism's survival. The discovery contributes to the understanding of sex, and lends insight into how pathogenic microbes can evolve to cause and spread diseases.