BIOL 350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Semen Analysis, Voluntary Childlessness
8 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Sex is enjoyable because it serves to propel genes into the future - from a darwinian evolution point of view. They have greater potential reproductive value (through polygyny) so they can afford to buy more wives (bride wealth) --> improving the wealthy families sons" chances of maximizing their own reproduction in the next generation. In some societies, the boy-preferring culture has spread from elites to the society at large. One child policy: practice of aborting non-male fetuses. China to end one-child policy and allow two: china has decided to end its decades-long one-child policy. Leads to drive to continue reproduction when a daughter is born (ie. a drive to try again to add another son) Maximizes family size - of both daughters and daughters. Maximizes the total number of grandchildren - because sons can father more offspring than what daughters can bear. Maximizes the number of future descendants (gene transmission) Fertility rate is dropping all over the world.
