Sex explains why the fit don’t always survive
An international study has shown how genetic variation can persist through generations, rather than being bred out in an evolution towards a ‘perfect type’. The research team observed that males which carried the genes for behavioural dominance were more successful at winning mates.
However, their gene-sharing female siblings were less successful, having smaller litter sizes. In contrast, females which didn’t carry the genes for behavioural dominance had larger litter sizes. This phenomenon is called sexual antagonism – where a particular gene is beneficial for one sex, but decreases success for the opposite sex.
Mr Jussi Lehtonen, Research School of Biology, ANU
Science
