Journal Article

The Good‐Genes and Compatible‐Genes Benefits of Mate Choice

Ketola, Tarmo, Kotiaho, J. S., Puurtinen, Mikael

2009

Overview

Genetic benefits from mate choice could be attained by choosing mates with high heritable quality (“good genes”) and that are genetically compatible (“compatible genes”). We clarify the conceptual and empirical framework for estimating genetic benefits of mate choice, stressing that benefits must be measured from offspring fitness because there are no unequivocal surrogates for genetic quality of individuals or for compatibility of parents. We detail the relationship between genetic benefits and additive and nonadditive genetic variance in fitness, showing that the benefits have been overestimated in previous verbal treatments. We point out that additive benefits readily arise from nonadditive gene action and that the idea of “heritable nonadditive benefits” is a misconception. We review the empirical evidence of the magnitude of benefits of good genes and compatible genes in animal populations, and we outline the most promising future directions for empirical research on the genetic benefits of mate choice.

• Publisher: The University of Chicago Press,University of Chicago Press,University of Chicago, acting through its Press
• Subject: Alleles / Animal and plant ecology / Animal populations / Animal reproduction / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Animals / Biological and medical sciences / Biological evolution / Crosses, Genetic / Female / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / General aspects / Genes / Genetic variance / Genetic Variation / Genetics / Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution / Human genetics / Male / Mating behavior / Mating Preference, Animal / Notes and Comments / Offspring / Phenotypic traits / Population genetics / Quantitative genetics / Reproduction - genetics / Sexual selection