EEB 4329 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Pleiotropy
7 Oct 2016
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This energy could be used for growth and reproduction. Natural selection cannot act on life history stages that don"t occur. Natural selection acts more weakly on older life history stages, instead acting more strongly on early life history stages like growth and reproduction. Pleiotropy- genes have effects on different life history stages. If you have higher testosterone rates, that will increase reproductive success. Wings, shells, living in trees, fire and weapons. 3 contrasting hypothesis of why primates grow slowly. Fraction of the metabolic budget that primates devote to growth and reproduction is half of that of other animals. Growing and maintaining a large brain requires a lot of energy. But- this doesn"t explain growth in all species, especially non brainy ones. Primates grow slowly because they must learn a lot. Not very compelling, we are all fast learners. Also, improved nutrition causes faster growth and earlier sexual maturity.
