Dude, Where is My Sex Gene? --- Persistence of Sex over Evolutionary Time in Cellular Automata

Oros, N. and Nehaniv, C.L. (2009) Dude, Where is My Sex Gene? --- Persistence of Sex over Evolutionary Time in Cellular Automata. Artificial life, 2009. pp. 1-8. ISSN 1530-9185

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We created a simple evolutionary system, F-sexyloop, on a deterministic twelve-state five-neighbour cellular automaton (CA) where self-reproducing loops have the capability of sex. This work was based on the sexyloop which was transformed by adding two new states and new rules. In the F-sexyloop, the loops can carry a sex gene used to facilitate the transfer of genetic material from a loop to another. This gene is analogous to the F factor plasmid in bacterial conjugation which confers the capacity to act as a donor of genetic material (including the gene itself). Therefore, the sex gene could potentially be maintained in the population during evolution or disappear. We show that in a wide variety of cases, the sex gene persists over evolutionary time and is present in the genomes of the dominant species.

Item Type	Article
Identification Number	10.1109/ALIFE.2009.4937687
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Date Deposited	15 May 2025 11:35
Last Modified	08 Apr 2026 19:48