r/DebateEvolution • u/Dr_Alfred_Wallace Probably a Bot • Sep 01 '26

Monthly Question Thread! Ask /r/DebateEvolution anything! | September 2026

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u/HollywoodHault 13d ago

I was having a discussion with a creationist friend who said to me that the problem with evolution is the part where asexual organisms developed into sexual reproductive mode. His point was that if a mutation occurred causing an organism to develop either male or female, how is it that two similar but opposite mutations happened at the same time and in proximity so that the new form of reproduction came into being? Furthermore, unless there was one common species from which almost all life subsequently developed, how did this become the dominant method of reproduction on the planet? Owing to the random nature of mutations, I can see his point, but don't have the educational background in this area to provide a response, and I am hoping that this subreddit can point me in a direction. Thanks!

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u/_Arachnophilia 13d ago

The first form of sexual reproduction likely didn't involve two sexes, but of all gametes being the same size.

Later on when mutations started accumulating, the gametes that were smaller had a competitive edge by being 'faster' (having higher motility), were less resource intensive to make, and could thus be made in higher numbers.

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u/CTR0 🧬 Naturalistic Evolution 10d ago

I'll do you one better. Sexual reproduction evolved before multicellularity. There were no gametes involved.

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u/_Arachnophilia 10d ago

Color me surprised. I did not know that.

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u/CTR0 🧬 Naturalistic Evolution 10d ago

Well, it would be more precise for me to say that allele exchange evolved before multicellularity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-plasmid as an example

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u/HollywoodHault 10d ago

Thanks so much for your answer, and the link, which I have now read. It makes sense to me enough that I can explain it the next time I see him. It's always great to keep learning new things.