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Sexual Communication in Archaea, the Precursor to Eukaryotic Meiosis

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Biocommunication of Archaea

Abstract

In archaea, sexual communication during mating includes transferring information (segments of DNA) to a second cell, apparently promoting DNA repair in the recipient. This process involves recombination between homologous DNA molecules from the two cells. Meiosis is a general capability of eukaryotes, and accumulating evidence indicates that the common ancestor of all eukaryotes was capable of meiosis. A central feature of meiosis is the recombination of homologous DNA molecules, ordinarily from two individuals (parents). Here, we present evidence that archaeal mating was the likely ancestral precursor to eukaryotic meiotic sex. In both archaea and eukaryotic microorganisms, the sexual cycle is induced by stresses that can cause DNA damage. Meiosis appears to have evolved in complexity from the simpler archaeal ancestral recombinational process. This evolution in complexity was likely part of a general protective response to DNA damaging reactive oxygen species produced by the proto-mitochondria during the prokaryotic to eukaryotic transition.

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Bernstein, H., Bernstein, C. (2017). Sexual Communication in Archaea, the Precursor to Eukaryotic Meiosis. In: Witzany, G. (eds) Biocommunication of Archaea. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65536-9_7

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