Sexual Selection (MFE)

• Sexual Selection

  • a selection where male and female individuals select inherited traits that assist find a mate
  • those with desirable traits are more likely to find a mate
  • decreases variation as the frequency of advantageous alleles will increase
  • the desirable trait doesn't necessarily help the individual survive, only helps them find a mate
  • secual reproduction results in variation as a result of crossing over in meiosis and mutations
• Similarities of Natural and Sexual Selection

  • require genetic variation
  • have a favourable phenotype that makes indvs. more likely to reproduce
  • change in allele freq. in gene pools as favourable alleles become more common as they are passed down to offspring
  • reduces variation
• Differences of Natural and Sexual Selection

  • In natural, desirable alleles arise from selection pressures whereas in sexual, they arise from indivs, more likely to find a mate
  • In natural, desirable phenotype has a survival advantage whereas those in sexual don't
  • In natural, pop. becomes better suited to environ. whereas sexual may not
  • Natural doesn't result in sexual dimorphism whereas sexual can
• Intrasexual Selection 


  Competition among males
• Intersexual Selection 


  Males display certain traits to females