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Kevin Guevara

Peter Melcher
Biology of Sex
12/2/16
Theme: Identities

Essay

Sexual evolution occurs because Charles Darwins The Origin of Species explains that
life is a constant struggle of survival therefore animals must adapt quickly. This is one of the
advantages of sexual reproduction in comparison to asexual reproduction. One of the most useful
advantages of sexual reproduction is that it leads to higher genetic variation within animals.
These genetic variations allows animals that practice sexual reproduction to adapt to their
enivronments much more quickly. Sexual reproduction essentially speeds up evolution, which is
helpful for survival and adaptation, but there are some disadvantages to this in comparison to
animals that practice asexual reproduction. The most obvious and biggest disadvantages of
sexual reproduction is that it involves finding a mate. Finding a mate and engaging in sexual
intercourse is time consuming and it requires a lot of energy. Animals who practice asexual
reproduction do not have to waste time finding a mate, and they can reproduce much more
rapidly. However, animals that use asexual reproduction have a lower genetic variation. This
makes it much more difficult for them to adapt to any changes in their environment.

Bilateral flatworms were the first animals observed to have an organ system. They have a
mouth, but they do not have a complete gut system like most other mammals do. They can
absorb nutrients through their skin. They have cuticle for protection, a more complex nervous
system, and they have eyes. The bilateral body contruction of this animal and the first
hermaphrodite to during the Cambrian period is important for understanding sexual reproduction
in in higher evolved life forms for a variety of reasons. All of these features allowed them to
become predators. Their brain and eyes also allowed them to have more control over their
movements. This means that they could go wherever they wanted in the ocean.

One of my favorite animal examples that we have discussed in class related to sexual
reproduction is the sub-Saharan African male vervet monkey. I just find it funny that one of their
primary sex traits, their scrotums, are blue and that the blueness increases when they become
aggressive. Another one of my favorite animal examples we have discussed in class related to
sexual reproduction is the male peacock. I just happen to think their secondary sex traits, their
enormous and colorful feathers, are simply beautiful. Another one of my favorite animal
examples related to sexual reproduction is the beetle. I just find it amazing that such a tiny
animal can have a large horn, and I think it would be entertaining to watch two males fight in
intrasexual competetion.

The knowledge that I have learned about the evolution of sex has made me feel much
more comfortalbe and confident with my sexual decisions and my body design. My parents are
very traditional, conservative, and Catholic. I was raised to believe that men are supposed to
look and act in a very masculine way. There are exist males in the animal kingdom that practice
what my parents would consider to be feminite. I was also raised to believe that any thoughts or
acts of homosexuality are unnatural. This class has made me realize that this not true.
Homosexuality has been observed in animals so this is natural and it should not be looked down
upon.

I am just truley amazed at how much change has come about in the animal kingdom
through evolution that started about 600 million years ago. It makes me feel like I am a part of
history because I am a human being. We as human beings are a product of evolution and the
results are just fascinating. When I reflect on the changes animals had to make in order to adapt
to their environments it makes me feel as if I can accomplish any goal I set out for myself. I just
have to be willing and able to adapt to the obstacles that are preventing me from reaching my
goals.

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