| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© 1997 International Society for Behavioral Ecology
research-article |
A theory of mate choice based on heterozygosity
Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York Albany, NY 12222, USA
ABSTRACT
In theories of mate choice that rely on genetic benefits, the nature of the"good genes" involved has received little attention. A review of genetic studies of mate choice in a variety of species and situations suggests that individual heterozygosity is more important than previously realized. Females are predicted to value heterozygosity in their offspring and under some conditions in their males. The expression of vigor, condition-sensitive ornaments, and symmetry in males may be a direct reflection not of "good genes" but of individual heterozygosity at key loci or at many loci. Like sexuality itself, mate choice based on heterozygosity and genic diversity may be an adaptation that favors the production of diverse and superior competitors. Female choice is made meaningful by sexuality, and the adaptive value of choice probably depends on some of the same factors that maintain sexuality
Key words: genetic quality, heterozygosity, mate choice, sexual selection.
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
J. Ruther, M. Matschke, L.-A. Garbe, and S. Steiner Quantity matters: male sex pheromone signals mate quality in the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis Proc R Soc B, September 22, 2009; 276(1671): 3303 - 3310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Garcia-Navas, J. Ortego, and J. J. Sanz Heterozygosity-based assortative mating in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): implications for the evolution of mate choice Proc R Soc B, August 22, 2009; 276(1669): 2931 - 2940. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. S. Johnson, C. F. Thompson, S. K. Sakaluk, M. Neuhauser, B. G.P. Johnson, S. S. Soukup, S. J. Forsythe, and B. S. Masters Extra-pair young in house wren broods are more likely to be male than female Proc R Soc B, June 22, 2009; 276(1665): 2285 - 2289. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Duraes, B. A. Loiselle, P. G. Parker, and J. G. Blake Female mate choice across spatial scales: influence of lek and male attributes on mating success of blue-crowned manakins Proc R Soc B, May 22, 2009; 276(1663): 1875 - 1881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Schjorring Sex allocation and mate choice of selfed and outcrossed Schistocephalus solidus (Cestoda) Behav. Ecol., May 1, 2009; 20(3): 644 - 650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Boerner and O. Kruger Aggression and fitness differences between plumage morphs in the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) Behav. Ecol., January 1, 2009; 20(1): 180 - 185. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Husseneder and D. M. Simms Size and heterozygosity influence partner selection in the Formosan subterranean termite Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2008; 19(4): 764 - 773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. M Suter, M. Keiser, R. Feignoux, and D. R Meyer Reed bunting females increase fitness through extra-pair mating with genetically dissimilar males Proc R Soc B, November 22, 2007; 274(1627): 2865 - 2871. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. A. Gowaty, W. W. Anderson, C. K. Bluhm, L. C. Drickamer, Y.-K. Kim, and A. J. Moore The hypothesis of reproductive compensation and its assumptions about mate preferences and offspring viability PNAS, September 18, 2007; 104(38): 15023 - 15027. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. A Pfaff, L. Zanette, S. A MacDougall-Shackleton, and E. A MacDougall-Shackleton Song repertoire size varies with HVC volume and is indicative of male quality in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) Proc R Soc B, August 22, 2007; 274(1621): 2035 - 2040. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. W. Anderson, Y.-K. Kim, and P. A. Gowaty Experimental constraints on mate preferences in Drosophila pseudoobscura decrease offspring viability and fitness of mated pairs PNAS, March 13, 2007; 104(11): 4484 - 4488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. R. Freeman-Gallant, N. T. Wheelwright, K. E. Meiklejohn, and S. V. Sollecito Genetic similarity, extrapair paternity, and offspring quality in Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) Behav. Ecol., November 1, 2006; 17(6): 952 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Bellemain, A. Zedrosser, S. Manel, L. P Waits, P. Taberlet, and J. E Swenson The dilemma of female mate selection in the brown bear, a species with sexually selected infanticide Proc R Soc B, February 7, 2006; 273(1584): 283 - 291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
O. Kleven and J. T. Lifjeld No evidence for increased offspring heterozygosity from extrapair mating in the reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) Behav. Ecol., May 1, 2005; 16(3): 561 - 565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. S Richardson, J. Komdeur, T. Burke, and T. von Schantz MHC-based patterns of social and extra-pair mate choice in the Seychelles warbler Proc R Soc B, April 7, 2005; 272(1564): 759 - 767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. A MacDougall-Shackleton, E. P Derryberry, J. Foufopoulos, A. P Dobson, and T. P Hahn Parasite-mediated heterozygote advantage in an outbred songbird population Biol Lett, March 22, 2005; 1(1): 105 - 107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Reid, P. Arcese, AliceL.E.V Cassidy, A. Marr, JamesN.M Smith, and L. Keller Hamilton and Zuk meet heterozygosity? Song repertoire size indicates inbreeding and immunity in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) Proc R Soc B, March 7, 2005; 272(1562): 481 - 487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. A. Eimes, P. G. Parker, J. L. Brown, and E. R. Brown Extrapair fertilization and genetic similarity of social mates in the Mexican jay Behav. Ecol., March 1, 2005; 16(2): 456 - 460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Buchholz Effects of parasitic infection on mate sampling by female wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo): should infected females be more or less choosy? Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2004; 15(4): 687 - 694. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Thornhill, S. W. Gangestad, R. Miller, G. Scheyd, J. K. McCollough, and M. Franklin Major histocompatibility complex genes, symmetry, and body scent attractiveness in men and women Behav. Ecol., September 1, 2003; 14(5): 668 - 678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. J. Weatherhead, M. R. Prosser, H. L. Gibbs, and G. P. Brown Male reproductive success and sexual selection in northern water snakes determined by microsatellite DNA analysis Behav. Ecol., November 1, 2002; 13(6): 808 - 815. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S.-H. Li and J. L. Brown Reduction of maternal care: a new benefit of multiple mating? Behav. Ecol., January 1, 2002; 13(1): 87 - 93. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. C. Robertson, S. M. Degnan, J. Kikkawa, and C. C. Moritz Genetic monogamy in the absence of paternity guards: the Capricorn silvereye, Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus, on Heron Island Behav. Ecol., November 1, 2001; 12(6): 666 - 673. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. D. Worden and P. G. Parker Polyandry in grain beetles, Tenebrio molitor, leads to greater reproductive success: material or genetic benefits? Behav. Ecol., November 1, 2001; 12(6): 761 - 767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. Slagsvold, A. Johnsen, H. M. Lampe, and J. T. Lifjeld Do female pied flycatchers seek extrapair copulations with familiar males? A test of the incomplete knowledge hypothesis Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2001; 12(4): 412 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Milinski and C. Wedekind Evidence for MHC-correlated perfume preferences in humans Behav. Ecol., March 1, 2001; 12(2): 140 - 149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. J. Weatherhead, K. W. Dufour, S. C. Lougheed, and C. G. Eckert A test of the good-genes-as-heterozygosity hypothesis using red-winged blackbirds Behav. Ecol., November 1, 1999; 10(6): 619 - 625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. J. Hosken and W. U. Blanckenhorn Female multiple mating, inbreeding avoidance, and fitness: it is not only the magnitude of costs and benefits that counts Behav. Ecol., July 1, 1999; 10(4): 462 - 464. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Kempenaers, B. Congdon, P. Boag, and R. J. Robertson Extrapair paternity and egg hatchability in tree swallows: evidence for the genetic compatibility hypothesis? Behav. Ecol., May 1, 1999; 10(3): 304 - 311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Petrie, C. Doums, and A. P. Moller The degree of extra-pair paternity increases with genetic variability PNAS, August 4, 1998; 95(16): 9390 - 9395. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||



