The Evolution of Sex Chromosomes through the Baldwin Effect

TL;DR

This paper proposes that the evolution of sex chromosomes and sex determination systems can be explained through the Baldwin effect, using the NK model to demonstrate how learning influences evolutionary processes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective linking the Baldwin effect to the evolution of sex chromosomes and demonstrates this with the NK model of fitness landscapes.

Findings

Sex determination systems can emerge through Baldwin effect mechanisms.

Learning influences the evolution of sex chromosomes.

The NK model supports the Baldwin effect explanation.

Abstract

It has recently been suggested that the fundamental haploid-diploid cycle of eukaryotic sex exploits a rudimentary form of the Baldwin effect. Thereafter the other associated phenomena can be explained as evolution tuning the amount and frequency of learning experienced by an organism. Using the well-known NK model of fitness landscapes it is here shown that the emergence of sex determination systems can also be explained under this view of eukaryotic evolution.