Group Selection Hypothesis

Sexual Reproduction: although seemingly harmless, presents an evolutionary problem and it has for many years. It is one of the most confusing natural occurrences. Graham Bell referred to sexual reproduction as: “ the queen of problems in evolutionary biology.” There are numerous costs of sex, for example: sexual reproduction takes an immense amount of time and energy. Also only females can produce offspring leaving males slightly useless in the eyes of some, having only to contribute their sperm.

The group selection hypothesis says that group selection is a process in which an individual does things and makes changes that are for the benefit of the species as a whole. Prediction 1 would say that group selection should favor females because

A fact from lecture is that selection favors the parent who produces offspring of less numerous sexes, meaning that there are more males in the world than females. This goes against prediction 1 from GS because according to the hypothesis there should be fewer males but in actuality there are more males because more males means that females will have a greater orotundity for reproducing. Fact 2 helps to point out flaws with the prediction from VP because the prediction would support the success mainly in sexually reproducing species when in fact asexual species also have high success rates. Fact 4 and 5 also help to falsify the prediction from VP because these facts don’t show a vast difference in the reproduction types that are being used. Fact 3 coincides well with what prediction 1 and prediction 2 of the tangled bank hypothesis predicts. Oysters and elms have a high number of mates and disperse their offspring to potentially have a greater success at survival. Both oysters and elms reproduce sexually and often as prediction 1 would suggest. Fact 6 also goes along with prediction 1 asexual species produce in more low population density areas than sexually reproducing species do because there is not as great of a need to compete to survive. Fact 7 coincides well with prediction 1 for PR hypothesis. Brightly colored

A popular example of altruism being bees, they don’t reproduce but instead work for the Queen who does the reproducing. The variable progeny theory is important to sexual reproduction understanding because it helps to recognize the range in potential variation in a population. The tangled bell hypothesis creates an understanding for why there is a sexual drive within species, potentially because breeding more helps the species as whole survive. In conclusion the pathogen resistance hypothesis helps explain why species are attracted to whom they are attracted to. Individuals want the best to sexually reproduce with they look for someone they think they will have the best success with and they decide who is based on things that can be seen. The evolution of sex is important to understanding mating choices and mating strategies because it explains not only what individuals look for in a specific partner but also why. Possibly because they think they are healthy in terms of the pathogen resistance theory or why a certain species has so many offspring like turtles for example. Turtles produce large amounts of offspring maybe because they know there is competition to survive and producing a greater amount of offspring heightens the chance