What function is suggested for the allopolyploidy events following hybridization in *Aspidoscelis*?

Answer

Providing genomic redundancy to accommodate disruptive asexual changes

Allopolyploidy, the process involving genome duplication following hybridization, is frequently observed in the asexual *Aspidoscelis* species, such as the allotetraploid *Aspidoscelis neomexicanus*. The biological significance of this event appears tied directly to facilitating the transition to clonality. The doubling of the entire genetic complement creates a large reserve of genetic material, or genomic redundancy. This redundancy is thought to be vital because the shift to asexuality involves rapid and potentially disruptive changes at the genomic level, including the loss of recombination. The extra genetic material offers a buffer, allowing the organism to absorb these structural alterations without immediate catastrophic failure, thereby supporting the establishment of a stable asexual lineage.

What function is suggested for the allopolyploidy events following hybridization in *Aspidoscelis*?

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