Assortive mating

Assortive Mating

Assortive mating, also known as assortative mating, is a mating pattern and a form of sexual selection in which individuals with similar phenotypes mate with one another more frequently than would be expected under a random mating pattern. This phenomenon can be observed in many species, including humans, and can have significant effects on the genetic diversity and evolution of populations.

Overview

Assortive mating is a fundamental concept in population genetics and evolutionary biology. It is one of the mechanisms that can disrupt random mating and lead to non-random associations of alleles at different loci within a population. This can result in an increase in homozygosity, which can have various effects on the population, including an increase in the prevalence of recessive diseases.

Types of Assortive Mating

There are two main types of assortive mating: positive assortive mating and negative assortive mating.

Positive Assortive Mating

Positive assortive mating, also known as homogamy, occurs when individuals with similar phenotypes mate with each other more frequently than would be expected under random mating. This can lead to an increase in homozygosity and a decrease in genetic variation within the population.

Negative Assortive Mating

Negative assortive mating, also known as heterogamy, occurs when individuals with dissimilar phenotypes mate with each other more frequently than would be expected under random mating. This can lead to an increase in heterozygosity and an increase in genetic variation within the population.

Implications for Evolution

Assortive mating can have significant implications for the evolution of populations. By increasing the prevalence of certain alleles within a population, assortive mating can lead to the evolution of new species through speciation. It can also contribute to the maintenance of species boundaries by reducing gene flow between different species.

See Also

• Sexual selection
• Population genetics
• Evolutionary biology
• Speciation