Lecture 11: Sexual Selection

Question 1

Define ‘amphimixis’.

Answer 1

The union of two genomes, usually carried by gametes, followed at some later time by reduction.

Question 2

What are the costs of sex?

Answer 2

• Recombination breaks up favourable gene combinations - costs valuable time and energy that could be used on survival, growth or asexual reproduction -inefficient for population growth because males cannot physically produced offspring.

Question 3

Define ‘isogamy’.

Answer 3

Gametes are all the same size.

Question 4

Define ‘anisogamy’.

Answer 4

Sexes differ in their gamete sizes.

Question 5

Define ‘Muller’s Ratchet’.

Answer 5

In the absence of recombination, mutations and damage accumulate over time and can’t be purged.