Story perspectives

Gene Conversion Powers Amazon Molly’s 100,000-Year Survival

6/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Missouri researchers identified gene conversion as the mechanism that has let the Amazon molly persist for over 100,000 years.
Wes Warren, principal investigator at the Bond Life Sciences Center, said the fish combines sexual and asexual genetics.
Edward Ricemeyer reported genome analysis showed mutations repaired by gene conversion while the two parental genomes mutate at different rates.
Published in Nature, the study suggests gene conversion may aid other asexual species.

1 of 1

Story summary

Missouri researchers identified gene conversion as the mechanism that has let the Amazon molly persist for over 100,000 years.
Wes Warren, principal investigator at the Bond Life Sciences Center, said the fish combines sexual and asexual genetics.
Edward Ricemeyer reported genome analysis showed mutations repaired by gene conversion while the two parental genomes mutate at different rates.
Published in Nature, the study suggests gene conversion may aid other asexual species.