The evolutionary puzzle of homosexuality

[paya]

I've come across an interesting article on homosexuality and the theory of evolution, so I thought I would share:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26089486

[Daddydavek]

Because it tries to do a creditable job in a complex field, it is a bit dull actually.   There is much that it didn't cover as well, including theory that a surplus of males will find a sexual outlet and a biological predisposition to that may be more beneficial than constant warfare. 

Edited February 19, 2014 by Daddydavek

[Thorn Wilde]

It also doesn't really address the spectrum of sexuality to any great extent, preferring to stick with the same old binary of sexual attraction. In other words, it doesn't address why some swing both ways. I think that if research into homosexuality also addressed bisexuality, we might get closer to unravelling the mystery of differences in human sexuality.

[JamesSavik]

Some people have some distorted ideas about evolution.

 

Many people think that it's a linear process of adaptation of positive attributes and that's just not the case. If it were, we would all be 10 feet tall with no nearsightedness or gingivitis.

 

There are two things that you have to keep in mind: genetic diversity is not just desirable for a healthy population, it is an absolute must. Mother nature deals quite harshly with populations without much genetic diversity. In fact many of the extinct species that are studied by paleontologists are essentially clones of each other.

 

The second thing you have to remember is that some evolutionary adaptations don't serve the individual. They serve the population.

 

We see this in nature in advanced species as specialization. In ape studies tribes that grow to a certain threshold, the pack members will take on roles like hunter, gather, scout or nurturer.

[hh5]

isn't evolution the...

 

 

survival and adaptability than beauty of the fittest

 

if one can resist the worst things that can happen .. then they stand to inherit the earth after

 

ie: the best way to find the cure for the plague is to find the person who can resist it and then replicate for the others to inherit the ability to resist for a price??

 

 

Some people have some distorted ideas about evolution.

 

Many people think that it's a linear process of adaptation of positive attributes and that's just not the case. If it were, we would all be 10 feet tall with no nearsightedness or gingivitis.

 

There are two things that you have to keep in mind: genetic diversity is not just desirable for a healthy population, it is an absolute must. Mother nature deals quite harshly with populations without much genetic diversity. In fact many of the extinct species that are studied by paleontologists are essentially clones of each other.

 

The second thing you have to remember is that some evolutionary adaptations don't serve the individual. They serve the population.

 

We see this in nature in advanced species as specialization. In ape studies tribes that grow to a certain threshold, the pack members will take on roles like hunter, gather, scout or nurturer.

Edited February 20, 2014 by hh5

[hh5]

[Xtro]

There is also the angle that sexual activity can be pursued for recreational rather than genetic or procreative needs - something which may come with a perceived higher order of intelligence.

[C J]

Humans imagine things, they devise social norms (for different reasons), they make decisions about everything based on what they perceive to be right and wrong.  Looking at behavior from a evolutionary point of view leaves out a lot of things that are way more important.  Even dogs aren't subject to one nature.  I think the attempt to totally understand any animal's behavior takes a lot more time and effort than anyone has time for.

 

The best anyone can really do is work to understand themselves, and that's probably the one thing that humans have very little talent for.

[Celethiel]

one toe closer to identifying and making your children gentecally the way you want them to be... perfect clones of their parents who were perfect clones of their grandparents etc.

 

Some people have some distorted ideas about evolution.

 

Many people think that it's a linear process of adaptation of positive attributes and that's just not the case. If it were, we would all be 10 feet tall with no nearsightedness or gingivitis.

 

There are two things that you have to keep in mind: genetic diversity is not just desirable for a healthy population, it is an absolute must. Mother nature deals quite harshly with populations without much genetic diversity. In fact many of the extinct species that are studied by paleontologists are essentially clones of each other.

 

The second thing you have to remember is that some evolutionary adaptations don't serve the individual. They serve the population.

 

We see this in nature in advanced species as specialization. In ape studies tribes that grow to a certain threshold, the pack members will take on roles like hunter, gather, scout or nurturer.

james is right, so what does that say about Humanity's survivability, or that of an apple, who all the breeds are very very genetically similar to each other.

[Xtro]

Hmmmm, I can appreciate that an apple is a fruit - but that doesn't necessarily make it gay. Does it?

[Adam Phillips]

isn't evolution the...

 

 

survival and adaptability than beauty of the fittest

 

if one can resist the worst things that can happen .. then they stand to inherit the earth after

 

ie: the best way to find the cure for the plague is to find the person who can resist it and then replicate for the others to inherit the ability to resist for a price??

 

Actually, most biologists will tell you that evolution isn't "the survival of the fittest." It's not some natural form of eugenics. It's the "survival of the fit enough."  There's a difference.

 

Not every trait gets passed on because it was superior for survival. Many traits get passed on because they aren't detrimental to survival.

 

And James is absolutely on the money that evolutionary adaptations serve the population rather than the individual.