Males Evolved From Hermaphrodites?

Scientists have recently theorized that olive trees which have male and hermaphrodite genders actually evolved from the hermaphrodite. Why would males evolve from hermaphrodites, rather than the other way around?

Initially, it is likely that all trees were "multisexual" - able to emit pollen or receive pollen. Over time, some lost their female sexual organs, rendering them, essentially, males. And male olive trees thrive and maintain steady numbers. Why wouldn't male trees be at a disadvantage considering that, unlike hermaphrodite trees which can reproduce via two conduits, males cannot be pollinated?

Turns out hermaphrodite trees are only able to successfully reproduce with half of their fellow hermaphrodites. Males, on the other hand, can successfully reproduce with all hermaphrodites, creating a species-wide balance.

What does it mean? Is there an inference that specialized gender roles may free resources for more concentrated reproduction? Or, looking at the bigger picture, are multiple genders more successful than a single sex that is able to reproduce either way? Or, like so many other species with unusual reproductive systems, are olive trees just weird?

If anything, I've developed a suspicion of extra-virgin olive oil.

Scientists Explain How Males Evolved From A Self-Fertilizing "Third Sex"

No expert here but I've got an idea.

First life reproduced by cloning itself right ? Just like cells still do today.

Works perfectly fine until a thread makes it pretty dumb to keep burping out the same sets of genes.

As some creatures still are like snails for example some frogs are both male and female. You still end up with mixing genes from the only two.

Things separate and the mixing of genes instantly doubles and over time a lot of variation exist which protects you and me from disease and so on. Being nature it only seems likely for other ways that survived as well.



[edit on 8-4-2010 by Sinter Klaas]

Wow a woman pulled out of a man first,, who knew?? lol