Fascinating Wikipedia fact of the day (7/24)

[recursivelyenumerable]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_competition

Sexual conflict may lead to sexually antagonistic co-evolution, in which one sex (usually males) evolves a favorable trait which is countered by a countering trait in the other sex. For example, male bean weevils (Callosobruchus maculatus) have spiny genitalia that are thought to allow them to copulate for a longer time without getting dislodged and hence transfer more sperm. However, this damages the female and reduces her fitness, so females have evolved the counteradaptation of kicking at males during mating, which reduces the time spent in copulation [2].

[Mandark]

I first learned about this from a PZ Myers post.  Seems like there's room here for some clever, game theory related comment.

[Madrun Badrun]

So cool.

[Joe Molotov]

It's like how Boogie evolved Old Spce man-scented bodywash but women evolved lesbianism and friend-zones.

[bagofeyes]

lol

[Boogie]

It's like how Boogie evolved Old Spce man-scented bodywash but women evolved lesbianism and friend-zones.

 

[drohne]

are you into evolutionary biology? that's what i'm studying now. have you read the selfish gene? read the selfish gene if you haven't. read and internalize the selfish gene, particularly the war of the sexes chapter, and not only is that fact unsurprising, it's pretty consistent with sexual adaptations across sexually reproducing species

[Dickie Dee]

It's like how Boogie evolved Old Spce man-scented bodywash but women evolved lesbianism and friend-zones.

 

[recursivelyenumerable]

I'm not really into evolutionary biology, although I think I've read The Selfish Gene or at least skimmed through it, years ago. I just like vaguely piquant facts about the sex lives of animals that remind me of Michel Houellebecq, whose books I have never read but would probably love.

[Van Cruncheon]

you ain't no houellebecq girl

ain't no houellebecq girl


...


yeah, just came in to say that

[Ichirou]

You're such a male bean weevil, Prole.

[Barry Egan]

The Possibility of an Island With Sexually Antagonistic Co-evolution