The Origins of Sex
Once, long ago, when organisms were much simpler, the only means of reproduction was to make a copy of oneself. Genetic changes to populations happened very slowly, and only as a result of random mutation.
Then, some bacteria began to exchange genes before reproducing, which was not quite sex yet, but it had the same conceptual goal. By taking on new genetic material before reproducing, these ancient prokaryotes increased the speed at which their populations could make adaptive changes to their environment. This process, of course, is what we call evolution.
Eventually, organisms evolved specialized cells to trade with one another, which contained their entire genetic blueprint. These were gametes, and by exchanging them, organisms were finally HAVING SEX.
SEX.
This brings us to the present. It’s a few billion years later, and no topic is more scintillating, more polarizing, more inviting.
Sex sells, they say, but what exactly is sex? We use the word to encompass a variety of topics. As a verb, we use it to mean sexual intercourse, and all sexual behaviors. As a noun, it can refer to the types of reproductive organs and hormones that individuals have.
Many cultures have extremely narrow definitions of acceptable sexual expression (both as a noun and as a verb), yet these ideologies vary wildly from culture to culture. People conflate sex with gender (a cultural construct), and say that sex is a biological absolute.
When we look at the plant, animal and fungi kingdoms at large, we begin to see that things are not that simple.
I believe by observing the vast spectrum of genetic and behavioral expression on this planet, we humans can free ourselves from rigid cultural ideals that don’t reflect our inner truths.
In the series Forbidden Fruit, we will be looking to Mother Nature and our planet’s history for the answers to these questions:
What is sex? Why did it evolve? Who is having it, and how many ways?
So what is sex?
From a strictly biological standpoint, sexual reproduction is when two organisms combine their gametes, and the result is a genetically unique offspring.
There are infinite ways that different organisms have found to do this. A few examples are:
- By swimming in a big orgiastic cloud in the ocean and releasing one’s genetic material all at the same time
- By sending one’s sperm cells to your neighbors on the backs of bees
- Interlocking genitals
- And so on.
From a cultural point of view, “sex” refers to so much more beyond the act of procreation. It refers to all of our behaviors and ideas surrounding sexual intercourse, which most of the time, is not done for the purpose of making babies.
Of course, the very people we are today is a direct result of the sexual selections of our ancestors. Our secondary sexual characteristics determine how we are perceived by others as well, but there are so many layers to human sexuality that exist beyond the biological. We’ll get into that later.
What is “biological sex”?
This one is trickier, because the definition varies from species to species.
Sometimes, organisms, like many complex animals, will have one type of gamete, and sometimes they’ll have more than one. Most flowering plants are hermaphroditic, the scientific term for which is bisexual. Slugs are an example of animal hermaphrodites. They exchange two sets of gametes when they engage in their slow, slimy mating ritual. In humans, biological sex is also not binary. It relies on a number of physiological, cellular and hormonal factors. And I hope by now everyone has heard of Le Blob, a slime mold with over 700 sexes who resides in the Paris zoo.
What is sexuality?
Our sexuality encompasses our capacity for sexual feelings and also the way that we interact sexually with other members of our species.
I feel there is a perception that humans are among the only animals that engage in complex recreational sexual behavior, but the truth is that many other species also engage in sexual acts that carry social weight and repercussions, but can’t possibly result in procreation.
If you’ve never heard about the very gay, orgiastic lives of Bonobo chimps, you have now. I’ll be discussing them further in the Forbidden Fruit series, along with slutty dolphins and gay deer.
So who is having sex?
One need only step outside in the springtime to know that absolutely everyone on Earth is fucking. Ok not quite absolutely EVERYONE (I’m looking at you, asexual amoebas), but the vast majority of complex organisms are out here making sweet sweet love, in the way that they evolved to do it.
After the long hard winter, when all the plants are flowering and coming back to life, that thick layer of pollen that’s coating everything is actually Tree Cum.
Birds do it, bees do it, even the flowers and the trees do it. Mammals do it mammal style, fish do it in a school. Nobody knows how eels do it, but they’re definitely doing it. Fungi do it, probably more than anyone. I’m sitting in my backyard, and there’s two lizards doing it a few feet away from me.
Even many organisms that can reproduce asexually, choose to mate with others when they have the option.
Join us for the next article in the Forbidden Fruit series, where we’ll be discussing the secret sex life of plants.
About the Author:
Sarah Penello’s education in plant medicine began at age 4, when her mom taught her to put a bay leaf in the sauce, and it has continued ever since.
She studied Cultural Anthropology and Biology at the University level, with a focus on Ethnobotany. She studied Ayurvedic Herbalism under Leslie Hanks, and became an Ayurvedic Practitioner under Dr. Naina Marballi, at Ayurveda’s World in New York City.
She is fascinated by co-evolution of plants and humans, and all of the lore, connections, symbolism and mythology that has evolved out of our relationship with plants.
She’s a forager, a wild chef, a maker of seasonal plant medicine, an author, an artist, a tarot reader, co-founder of The Church of the Cosmic Cunt, and a contributing editor of Creatrix.
You can book a tarot reading or plant medicine session with her, and you can shop her plant products at Sasquatch Botanica.
.
