Evolution vs Bisexuality

Bill Frix (wfrix@engr.jbu.edu)
Thu, 15 Aug 1996 14:35:32 GMT-5

Greetings! From Robert L. Miller:

> I would like to hear from some of the biologists about the science
> of sex. I can remember from my freshman biology class (a long time
> ago) that the living world is overwhelmingly bisexual and that
> this is linked to evolutionary choice. Does this have a bearing on
> the discussion?

Interesting concept. Although I am neither a biologist nor
evolutionist, it seems contradictory that bisexuality would evolve as
the dominant lifestyle. It makes more sense to me that asexuality,
such as the simple cell amoebas, or androgyny/hermaphroditism, (an
animal or plant having both male and female reproductive organs, such
as the earthworms) would be the evolutionary norm. After all, it
evolution favors those developments that give an edge in species
survival, cultures in areas where there are excess males (or females)
would have better survival probabilities if all members could either
reproduce without another partner (such as on isolated islands) or
could mate with any other partner and conceive. What is the
evolutionary justification of bisexuality?

William M. Frix
Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering
Box 3021
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
Phone: (501) 524-7466
FAX: (501) 524-9548
EMAIL: wfrix@engr.jbu.edu