Sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour

Question 1

What is “Sexual Selection” ?

Answer 1

Explains why some disadvantageous characteristics are still around, whilst not effective, they may be “sexy” to potential mates.

Question 2

Define + explain “Anisogamy”:

Answer 2

The differences between male and female sex cells (gametes); Female gametes are limited and require lots of effort compared to males and so women are a rare ‘resource’

Question 3

What does “Inter-sexual selection” involve ?

Answer 3

Qualities that make someone attractive to the opposite sex, used mainly by women as they have more men to filter through whereas men take ‘whatever they can get’ as women are ‘rarer’

Question 4

What is the “Runaway process” ?

Answer 4

Genes passed onto songs from fathers; Fisher’s ‘Sexy sons’ hypothesis - desirable traits are passed on in order to give the sons a better chance at reproducing

Question 5

What does “Intra-sexual selection” involve ?

Answer 5

The competition between members of the same sex to attract the opposite sex

Question 6

What is “dimorphism” ?

Answer 6

The differences in characteristics between men and women caused by traditional roles e.g. men are bigger than women as traditionally they hunted + gathered