Re: Coy males and insatiable females.


<whitesickle@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:dt86s3$2tm1$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Science 17 February 2006:
Vol. 311. no. 5763, pp. 965 - 969

Review
Reproductive Social Behavior: Cooperative Games to Replace Sexual
Selection
Joan Roughgarden, Meeko Oishi, Erol Akçay


Theories about sexual selection can be traced back to Darwin in 1871.
He proposed that males fertilize as many females as possible with
inexpensive sperm, whereas females, with a limited supply of large
eggs, select the genetically highest quality males to endow their
offspring with superior capabilities. Since its proposal, problems
with this narrative have continued to accumulate, and it is our view
that sexual selection theory needs to be replaced. We suggest an
approach that relies on the exchange of direct ecological benefits
among cooperating animals without reference to genetic benefits.
This approach can be expressed mathematically in a branch of game
theory that pertains to bargaining and side payments.
--------------------------------

PiP comment: Sounds interesting. Joan (formerly Jonathan) Roughgarden
has a unique perspective on how our own gender identity colors our
thinking about sexual selection.

Ragland: This is hilarious but entertaining, the idea cooperative games
to replace Darwinian sexual selection. The fact a transexual contributed
to this paper is perhaps indicative of the bias against sexual selection.

It is not as ridiculous as it sounds. Game theory is in widespread use
in investigations of sexual selection, like all other interactions between
individuals. And the key assumption of traditional sexual selection
theory - that males contribute less than females because eggs are larger
than sperms - is frequently false. The total biomass of ejaculate is
usually larger than the mass of an egg, and not all of that mass goes
to waste. And I haven't even mentioned preying mantises yet. Males
contribute a lot in many species.

Roughgarden is not just any transexual. Google for the name in this
group and you will learn that he wrote THE book on population
genetics in the last generation. (Josh has repeatedly referenced it in his
occasional comments on "doing the math".) And she has published a number of
papers on the shortcomings of traditional sexual selection theory.
She is not saying that Darwin's ideas are fundamentally flawed - she
is just saying that there are a lot of fine points that have been missed
because the outlook of the authors has been mostly male.

[moderator's note: I must throw in an enthusiastic huzzah
for Roughgarden: her work has been consistently top-notch
over a professional career spanning, by now, several decades.
The fact that she's a transsexual is, to my mind, irrelevant:
what matters is the soundness of her work. I urge you to read
the paper. - JAH]

I'm not sure how true this is in sexual selection theory, but it is
absolutely true in theories of hominid evolution. Reading this group,
you would think that language was invented by males to help organize
hunting groups. And that women picked up the notion of language by
listening to the mighty hunters bragging about their exploits around
the campfire. Even if you are allergic to Aquatic Ape Theory, you
should read Elaine Morgan's book "The Descent of Woman" to gain
a bit of perspective.


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Coy males and insatiable females.
    ... Theories about sexual selection can be traced back to Darwin in 1871. ... select the genetically highest quality males to endow their ... Trivers in their discussion of sexual selection theory. ... I like their use of cooperative game theory to explain ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Coy males and insatiable females.
    ... Cooperative Games to Replace Sexual Selection ... that sexual selection theory needs to be replaced. ... approach that relies on the exchange of direct ecological benefits ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: Coy males and insatiable females.
    ... Theories about sexual selection can be traced back to Darwin in 1871. ... among cooperating animals without reference to genetic benefits. ... This approach can be expressed mathematically in a branch of game ... Trivers in their discussion of sexual selection theory. ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: Coy males and insatiable females.
    ... Sexual Selection" and "Nature's Rainbow to know Darwinian sexual ... According to Mr. Ghiselin of the California Academy ... you would think that language was invented by males ... Or, "In female choice, females are courted by ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Is sexual selection theory wrong?
    ... Darwin's second monster: sexual selection theory. ... Males want to have sex with several females in order to create ... few, high-quality males, who will give their eggs the best genes. ... University of Chicago professor of ecology and evolution, ...
    (uk.philosophy.humanism)