In a Population with 50 Males and 25 Females That

question 13

Essay

In a population with 50 males and 25 females that produce a total of 100 offspring, calculate how many grandoffspring per child a parent will have if (a) the parent produces half sons and half daughters, or (b) the parent produces 1/4 sons and 3/4 daughters. Which strategy will be favored by natural selection in this population?

---

Definitions:

SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, an unexplained infant death, usually during sleep, that doesn’t have a clear cause even after thorough investigation.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter largely found in the brain, intestines, and blood platelets that regulates mood, appetite, sleep, memory, and learning.

Anencephaly

Failure of the forebrain to develop.

Neural Tube

The embryonic precursor to the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord.