A new study has revealed that a genetic parasite called cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) could actually be beneficial for the species it infects. CI is known to reduce the fertility of the species it infects, however the new research has found that it can also increase fertility in some cases. The research shows that the CI parasite can act as a kind of “helpful hitchhiker” in some species, boosting fertility by introducing beneficial traits from other organisms. This could mean that the parasite is not entirely selfish - it may actually benefit the species it infects in some cases. This research provides an interesting new perspective on CI and could lead to improved understanding of the role it plays in both natural and artificial selection.

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source: Phys.org