Evolution: sex or survival

James Howie; Andrew Pomiankowski; Alison J Cotton

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2013.10.032

Evolution: sex or survival

Curr Biol. 2013 Dec 2;23(23):R1041-3. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.10.032.

Authors

James Howie¹, Andrew Pomiankowski, Alison J Cotton

Affiliation

¹ Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.

PMID: 24309279
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.10.032

Abstract

A classic paradox in sexual selection is how sexual traits under strong directional selection maintain underlying genetic variation. A new study has found that in Soay sheep a trade-off between reproductive success and survival maintains variation in horn size.

MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Evolution*
Genetic Variation
Horns / anatomy & histology*
Mating Preference, Animal*
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics*
Selection, Genetic*
Sex Characteristics
Sheep / physiology*

Substances

Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled