What is sexual conflict?
Q: What is sexual conflict?
A: Sexual conflict is a term in evolutionary biology that occurs in a species when what benefits the females is different from what benefits the males.
Q: What does the word 'benefit' mean in sexual conflict?
A: The word 'benefit' in sexual conflict means 'what benefits the reproduction of the female's (or male's) genes.
Q: How is sexual conflict expressed?
A: Sexual conflict is expressed as a difference in biological fitness.
Q: What can sexual conflict lead to?
A: Sexual conflict can lead to an evolutionary arms race between males and females.
Q: Has sexual conflict only been studied in animals?
A: Yes, sexual conflict has primarily been studied in animals, though it can in principle apply to any sexually reproducing organism, such as plants and fungi.
Q: What is the difference between what benefits the females and what benefits the males in sexual conflict?
A: The difference between what benefits the females and what benefits the males in sexual conflict is what benefits the reproduction of their genes.
Q: What is the meaning of biological fitness?
A: Biological fitness is a measure of reproductive success, which includes surviving long enough to reproduce and to produce offspring.
