My latest Double X post is up…and it’s all about tits. Blue tits, that is.
The hoary old evolutionary explanation for gender differences is that males are slutty and females are choosy. Males sleep around in order to fertilize as many eggs as possible, while females guard their virtue until Prince Charming comes along. But with the advent of genetic techniques (and in my opinion, female biologists), scientists have found that nature overflows with wanton females. Figuring out evolutionary reasons for looseness in ladies is harder—since each egg can only be fertilized once, having lots of sex won’t necessarily lead to more babies. A study on a European songbird, published in last month’s Current Biology, reveals one possible reason for female infidelity—bastard chicks are bigger and stronger than their legit half-siblings.
Check out the rest at the Oyster’s Garter outpost.
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Tammy just read your latest DoubleX and was laughing through the article and totally lost it with the comments! She wanted me to convey – Excellent!
Please tell her thank you! Entertaining biology enthusiasts is my highest goal.