Conjugation (or mating) of ciliates is a unique phenomenon among living beings. They have sex not for reproduction or pleasure — they seek to increase genetic variation. Scientists from St Petersburg ...

Spider mites — they’re just like us. Scientists at the University of Vienna have uncovered the creepy-crawlies’ sexual habits. Male spider mites will “undress” their female counterparts before ...

The mating process is one of the most important mechanisms for maintaining genetic variation in natural populations. The emergence of sexual reproduction turned out to be the most important ...

For some animals, reproduction comes at the ultimate cost—their own lives. While this may seem extreme, it's a natural strategy to maximize reproductive success. These species invest everything into ...