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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
There are two main types of assortive mating: positive assortive mating and negative assortive mating.
Positive Assortive Mating[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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