The Handicap Principle

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I thought this may interest some of you here.  My nephew Keith works on this under the Biologist who is the main person who developed this theory.  It's not mainstream but apparently very interesting.  Keith is being taken to a conference in Switzerland in October where lots of world scientists are gathering to discuss it.  Here is a link, some of you may be able  to better understand it than me.  (lots of science in my family lol)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handicap_principle

[F, Calla & Luca]

Nicky I closed the one discussion since it posted twice. I don't know if you have the option of deleting it. I started the Wikipedia article but my neurons short circuited. Why can't some folks write in English. I'll try again when I'm fresh : ) But congratulations on your nephew.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I don't know why that happened must have been my impatience and I clicked twice. Apologies.

[F, Calla & Luca]

No problem.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I learned about this in school in an animal behavior class :)

In a nutshell:

For an animal to be able to "afford" to have showy feathers, glossy fur, well-practiced mating dances etc. they must be able to provide for themselves (through hunting or foraging).  Therefore they make a better mate, since they are able to "sacrifice" a portion of what they gather towards getting a mate, which is not necessary for individual survival.  They are essentially "handicapping" themselves to show that they can do it but still survive.

It's a really cool principle - and as soon as the opposite sex starts selecting mates based on this.... it often leads to what's called "runaway sexual selection", where you get crazy sexual ornaments like the peacock's tails.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That's what I thought. The flashy guys with the big roll of dough get the gals. Not such a handicap after all. But they do tend to  get carried away.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

There is an interesting book on this subject called The Red Queen.  Except for a few of the middle chapters it is all quite readable and I recommend it.  When it gets a bit much just skip to the next chapter or put it down for awhile.