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Sexual selection study flawed

2012-06-26 23:24:02.276193+00 by Dan Lyke 4 comments

Science News: Biologists Reveal Potential 'Fatal Flaw' in Iconic Sexual Selection Study.

In 1948, English geneticist Angus John Bateman published a study showing that male fruit flies gain an evolutionary advantage from having multiple mates, while their female counterparts do not. Bateman's conclusions have informed and influenced an entire sub-field of evolutionary biology for decades.

He threw out samples for which he couldn't determine parentage from physical mutations. Turns out that biased the hell out of his samples. Sigh.

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comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2012-06-27 05:13:35.559717+00 by: hananc

This article will be wildly used by those who oppose evolutionary psychology. Just wait and see.

#Comment Re: made: 2012-06-27 21:04:07.621624+00 by: andylyke

So - Master Bateman was playing with the data?

(Sorry - couldn't resist)

#Comment Re: made: 2012-06-27 22:12:28.722987+00 by: Dan Lyke

Okay, you win the "make the guy in the next cube over wonder what Dan is snickering at" award for the day.

#Comment Re: made: 2012-06-27 23:14:50.586622+00 by: TheSHAD0W

Probably didn't know their sexual organs from their Anguses.