........................................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................................... v DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................... vi LIST of FIGURES .............................................................................................................................. ix LIST of TABLES .................................................................................................................................. x Chapter 1.0: GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 1 1.1 The Evolution of Sex (Meiosis): ............................................................................................... 1 1.2 Origin of Sexual Reproduction: ............................................................................................... 3 1.3 The Maintenance of Sexual Reproduction and Its Benefits: .................................................. 5 1.4 Introduction to Red Algae: ...................................................................................................... 6 1.4.1 Classification of Red Algae ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.2 Characteristics of the Red Algae .............................................................................................................. 8 1.4.3 Reproduction and Life History of Red Algae ...................................................................................... 12 1.5 Diversity of Red Algae ............................................................................................................ 14 1.5.1 Bangiophyceae ........................................................................................................................................... 14 1.5.2 Florideophyceae ........................................................................................................................................ 16 1.5.3 Stylonematophyceae ................................................................................................................................. 17 1.5.4 Cyanidiophyceae ....................................................................................................................................... 18 1.5.5 Porphyridiophyceae .................................................................................................................................. 19 1.6 Pseudogenes and Gene Duplication ...................................................................................... 19 1.7 Horizontal Gene Transfer ....................................................................................................... 21 1.8 The Modes of Evolution ......................................................................................................... 22 1.9 Core Meiotic Genes ................................................................................................................ 23 1.10 Objectives of the Thesis ....................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 2.0: METHODS ................................................................................................................ 31 2.1 DNA Extraction and Samples ................................................................................................ 31 2.2 Primer Design ......................................................................................................................... 32 2.3 PCR Amplification of Meiotic Genes ..................................................................................... 33