Is the peacock's train an honest signal of genetic quality at the major histocompatibility complex?

doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01746.x

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Article

Is the peacock's train an honest signal of genetic quality at the major histocompatibility complex?

Journal of evolutionary biology - 1 Jun 2009

Hale M L, Verduijn M H, Møller A P, Wolff K, Petrie M

Abstract excerpt

Peacocks are a classic example of sexual selection, where females preferentially mate with males who have longer, more elaborate trains. One of the central hypotheses of sexual selection theory is that large or elaborate male 'ornaments' may signal high genetic quality (good genes). Good genes are thought to be those associated with disease resistance and as diversity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)...

Topics

Animals
Clutch Size
Female
Galliformes
Genetic Variation
Major Histocompatibility Complex
Male
Oviparity
Ovum
Sex Characteristics

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Open in PubMed

Identifiers

PMID: 19453370
DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01746.x

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