assortative mating
Definition
Noun: 1. A non-random mating pattern in which individuals with similar phenotypes or genotypes mate with one another more frequently than would be expected under a random mating system. This process leads to an increase in genetic similarity within mating pairs.
Usage
- Assortative mating is a key concept in population genetics and evolutionary biology.
- The term is often discussed in contrast to or .
- It can be positive (like mates with like) or negative (like mates with unlike), though "assortative mating" alone typically implies the positive form.
Examples
- In many human populations, there is assortative mating for traits such as height, education level, and socioeconomic status.
- The study found evidence of assortative mating for body size in the bird species, with larger females consistently pairing with larger males.
- Assortative mating based on genetic relatedness can influence the genetic structure of a population over time.
Advanced Usage
- Genetic Assortative Mating: Mating based on specific genetic similarities, which can reduce genetic variation in a population.
- Phenotypic Assortative Mating: Mating based on observable physical or behavioral characteristics (e.g., intelligence, skin color, personality traits).
Variants and Related Words
- Disassortative Mating (n): The opposite pattern, where individuals with dissimilar phenotypes or genotypes mate more frequently than expected by chance.
- Homogamy (n): A synonym often used in sociological contexts to mean marriage or mating between individuals with similar social characteristics.
- Non-random Mating (n): The broader category that includes both assortative and disassortative mating patterns.
Synonyms
- Homogamy
- Positive assortative mating
- Non-random mating (specific type)
Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)
- Sexual Selection: A mode of natural selection where individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely than others to obtain mates.
- Inbreeding: Mating between closely related individuals, which is an extreme form of genetic assortative mating.
- Population Structure: The organization of genetic variation within and among populations, which can be affected by assortative mating.
Noun
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mating of individuals having more traits in common than likely in random mating
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