Sunday 31 March 2019

Main mechanism of the evolution of sexual dimorphism


Sexual dimorphism is very common and (normally) requires the evolution of sex-specific genetic variation/regulation so the genetic correlation between the sexes can be <1. Is there consensus as to how this type of variation predominantly spreads?


I can see it could evolve by drift and selection and I expect it is predominantly via selection (sexually antagonistic selection for different optimal genotypes)- We typically associate sex differences in traits with sex differences in selection (ecological, sexual selection...).




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