[czl]

"a mishmash of genes from two different individuals almost always works out" => different individuals of the _same_ species (which btw is how a "species" is defined).

The evolution of organisms that gene mishmash (aka sexual reproduction) is thought to be the result of an ongoing arms race between gene sequences that "try" to stay unchanged (in higher level species) and gene sequences that "try" to "free ride" (from viruses etc.) Being able to build members of your species from "mishmash of genes from two different individuals" has the effect of scrambling the DNA of each species member which makes attack harder.

Organisms that do not do this and reproduce via cloning (aka Parthenogenesis) are often entirely wiped out once a pathogen figures out how to target their DNA -- hence the bananas types we eat change over time.

ps: Similar evasion is used by some computer viruses: https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/definition/Poly...

[tachyonbeam]

> The evolution of organisms that gene mishmash (aka sexual reproduction) is thought to be the result of an ongoing arms race between gene sequences that "try" to stay unchanged (in higher level species) and gene sequences that "try" to "free ride" (from viruses etc.)

Sexual reproduction means your species has a very large gene pool, and individuals with new combinations of genes can be produced very quickly. That's not just an advantage against viruses. It's also very useful for adapting rapidly and competing against other species when your environment changes. New threats (and new opportunities) show up all the time, be it dwindling or changing availability of food, climate change (e.g. new ice age), new predators or new preys, and also a group of individuals migrating to a new region of the world with a different climate.