Episode 9

"Getting Busy"
Synopsis

 

Sex is ubiquitous in many living organisms, but other organisms have opted for different non-sexual ways of creating new copies of themselves.

So, what are the big advantages of sex and why was it favored by natural selection in so many species?

The process of creating new life from an egg and a sperm requires a complex chain of events that can easily go wrong.

How are the two most specialized  (“differentiated”) cells in the human body, give rise to the “zygote”, the most un-specialized cell? 

The process of egg and sperm maturation is fascinating but also riddled with evolutionary puzzles.

What strategy would machines use to reproduce themselves?

Pleasurable sex experiences are an inextricable part of our lives, but if we were to recreate that same experience artificially, then sex beyond pregnancy would be obsolete. Is sex doomed to disappear?