FAQ: Does sex play a role in evolution?

NTW Role of Sex in EvolutionYes. Sexual selection allows an organism to combine half of its genes with the half of another and these new combinations of genes are passed to the following generations. It is this genetic diversity that provides the opportunity for a species to change over time. Sexual selection is a very powerful drive in organisms. Peacocks, for example, produce and maintain beautiful, extravagant feathered trains to attract mates. These feathers are harmful to the individual bird’s survival and are likely to attract predators as well as interested members of the opposite sex and they slow down the male birds in fighting, fleeing and flying. Studies have shown that peahens select and mate with peacocks with the biggest tails that advertise the fitness level of their genes.