Zombie Gene Flow: Asexual Hybrids Reintroduce Genomic Elements of Extinct Species into Contemporary Sexual Populations

This study shows how asexuality and polyploidy may affect gene flow from an extinct species, challenging the conventional view that hybrid asexual lineages are evolutionary dead ends. By analyzing Cobitis loaches in the Western Balkans, the research reveals that hybrid lineages not only preserve genetic diversity but also actively contribute to introgression, even beyond species extinction. These findings highlight the evolutionary significance of hybridization in shaping genomes and adaptive potential, offering new insights into the persistence and impact of asexual hybrids in natural populations.