Organisms across the tree of life have complex life cycles that include both sexual and asexual reproduction or that are obligately asexual. These organisms include ecologically dominant species that structure many terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as many pathogens, pests, and invasive species. We must consider both the evolution and maintenance of these various reproductive modes and how these modes shape the genetic diversity, adaptive evolution, and ability to persist of the species that exhibit them. Thus, having a common framework is a key aspect of understanding the biodiversity that shapes our planet. In the 2019 AGA President's Symposium, Sex and Asex: The genetics of complex life cycles, researchers from across a wide range of taxonomic models and modes of investigation coalesced around a common theme - understanding not only how such complex life cycles may evolve, but how they are shaped by the evolutionary and ecological forces around them. In this introduction to the Special Issue from the symposium, we give an overview of some of the key ideas and areas of investigation (a common clonal lexicon, we might say) and introduce the breadth of work submitted by symposium participants.

中文翻译：

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Sex and Asex：克隆词典

生命之树上的生物体具有复杂的生命周期，包括有性繁殖和无性繁殖，或完全无性繁殖。这些生物包括构成许多陆地和海洋生态系统的生态优势物种，以及许多病原体、害虫和入侵物种。我们必须考虑这些不同繁殖模式的进化和维持，以及这些模式如何塑造展示它们的物种的遗传多样性、适应性进化和持久能力。因此，拥有一个共同的框架是理解塑造我们星球的生物多样性的一个关键方面。在 2019 年 AGA 总统座谈会上，Sex and Asex：复杂生命周期的遗传学，来自广泛的分类模型和调查模式的研究人员围绕一个共同的主题——不仅了解这种复杂的生命周期可能如何演变，而且了解它们如何受到周围的进化和生态力量的影响。在对研讨会特刊的介绍中，我们概述了一些关键思想和研究领域（我们可以说是一个常见的克隆词典），并介绍了研讨会参与者提交的工作范围。