BIO120H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Jerry Coyne, Sexual Selection, Long Tail
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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Required reading: chapter 3 of why evolution is true by jerry coyne. The peacock appears to violate every aspect of darwinism: A lot of metabolic energy is diverted to the tail which has to be regrown each year. Waste time, energy, and may actually reduce survival. If traits differ between males and females of a species, the elaborate behaviours structures and ornaments are nearly always restricted to males. The currency of selection is not really survival. Sexual selection comes in two forms: direct competition between males: Males battle to control territory: female choosiness: Any individual involved in the act is sacri cing 50% of their genetic contribution to the next generation. Sex must have some sort of evolutionary advantage that outweighs the cost. Presumably evolved from a condition where gametes were of equal size. Record number of children produced by a woman: 69. Record number of children produced by a man: ~1000.
