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DIFFICULTY OF PLANT SEXING. "In contrast to many animal groups, the sex of an individual cannot usually be determined in plants before flowering without sex-specific genetic markers." https://lnkd.in/ge7JD6J View in LinkedIn

"SEXUAL DIMORPHISM results from the interplay between sex-specific adaptation and the breakdown of genetic correlations that constrain the independent evolution of traits subject to asymmetric (sex-biased) selection in females and males" https://lnkd.in/ge7JD6J View in LinkedIn

NATURAL AND SEXUAL SELECTION. "Such divergence is facilitated by both natural and sexual selection. Indeed, these are the primary evolutionary processes responsible for the evolution and maintenance of sexual dimorphism, and although non-adaptive processes including drift and mutation can affect genetic variability in sexual dimorphism, they cannot by themselves explain its persistence." https://lnkd.in/ge7JD6J View in LinkedIn

NO BARRIER. "Sexual dimorphism can still evolve when such trade-offs exist, and this can involve sex-limited gene expression and the breakdown of strong intersexual genetic correlations.Such divergence is facilitated by both natural and sexual selection." https://lnkd.in/ge7JD6J View in LinkedIn

CONSTRAINTS. "When the sexes have different optimal values for such traits, a shared genetic architecture can constrain them from evolving toward their respective trait optima." https://lnkd.in/ge7JD6J View in LinkedIn

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM. "Speciation is inhibited when the genetic basis of male and female ecological traits allows the sexes to diverge substantially. This is because sexual dimorphism, which can evolve quickly, can eliminate the frequency-dependent disruptive selection that would have provided the impetus for speciation." https://lnkd.in/gkBNC3c View in LinkedIn

SO ENDS this first weekend focused on the European Black Death. Beyond the biology of the selective pressure such a plague has on strengthening a population by winnowing out the weak, one impressive aspect of this particular bacteria is the cultural impact. The church weakened, the labor class strengthened, medicine took an uptick, art was no longer simply religious, and food was more available because there were less mouths to feed. One bacteria changed society forever. View in LinkedIn

“FEAR OF INFECTION led many people to isolate themselves from others, thereby further contributing to social chaos and individual anxiety and depression. The fear for one's own life and the lives of loved ones was rational and perhaps useful under the circumstances. Rational fear, however, often became transformed into panic, and at times panic led to rage and the adoption of bizarre practices. Some extremists became flagellants, whipping their bodies bloody as they marched from town to town, proclaiming that the plague was a well-deserved punishment from God.” https://lnkd.in/giSpPWR View in LinkedIn

MALE CAUSE OF DEATH. "Leucadendron xanthocomus. In contrast, the seed set and survival of females was not associated with display size. The ultimate cause of death in male plants appears to be the high maintenance cost of the abundant yellow non-photosynthetic display leaves that attract pollinators, but which cause considerable shading of photosynthetic leaves." https://lnkd.in/ge7JD6J View in LinkedIn

SOCIAL IMPACT. “In 1348, the Black Death swept across Europe and killed nearly 50% of the population. Immediately prices for labor, livestock, and consumables skyrocketed and governments everywhere ground to a halt. England was no exception as King Edward III had the additional concern of paying for his military campaigns against France during the opening phase of the Hundred Years War (1337-1453).” https://lnkd.in/g5DRQJ8 View in LinkedIn