Frozen Evolution. Or, that’s not the way it is, Mr. Darwin. A Farewell to Selfish Gene.

In most species whose members can reproduce asexually, the series of asexual reproductions must be interrupted from time to time by sexual reproduction; otherwise the population gradually degenerates, reproduces ever more slowly and finally completely dies out.A single cycle of sexual reproduction is then capable of genetically rejuvenating the particular population, of renewing its reproductive potential and permitting its further existence.A number of authors assume that, during sexual reproduction, some so-far obscure mechanism repairs the mutations and damaged genetic material that have accumulated during the time of asexual reproduction (Bernstein et al. 1985; Avise 1993).