Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Honest signalling among gametes

M Pagel1

  • 1School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, UK.

Nature
|June 10, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

In lower eukaryotes, pheromones act as honest signals of gamete quality, not just proximity cues. This sexual selection model explains complex mating behaviors like partner rejection and escalated signaling.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Peptides@mica: from affinity to adhesion mechanism.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2016
Same author

Peck orders and group size in laying hens: `futures contracts' for non-aggression.

Behavioural processes·2014
Same author

Prions and the new molecular phenetics.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

Is the propagation of prion molecules in different hosts an example of lamarckian inheritance? Reply from M. Pagel and D.C. Krakauer.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

Inferring the origins of state-dependent courtship traits.

The American naturalist·2008
Same author

Phylogenetic analysis and comparative data: a test and review of evidence.

The American naturalist·2008
Same journal

Keep the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes alive - the science is worth the price tag.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Say hello to hard helium.

Nature·2026
Same journal

How to avoid dementia - what the science really says.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Save Hubble: the race to preserve the space telescope kicks off.

Nature·2026
Same journal

How long can humans live? All evidence points to a maximum of 125 years.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Listen to Gen Z when it comes to AI in education.

Nature·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Lower eukaryotes use pheromones for gamete attraction.
  • Chemotaxis towards pheromones is typically explained by proximity or signal strength.
  • Existing models do not fully explain complex mating behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel explanation for pheromonal signaling and chemotaxis in gametes.
  • To interpret pheromonal signals as sexually selected traits advertising gamete quality.
  • To link signal strength to gamete fitness and mate preference.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of sexual selection in gametes.
  • Analysis of pheromonal signaling costs and gamete competition.
  • Development of a new framework for understanding gamete chemotaxis.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Pheromonal signals can honestly advertise gamete quality (fitness).
  • Gamete preference is predicted to correlate with inferred partner quality based on signal strength.
  • This model explains behaviors not predicted by proximity-based attraction.

Conclusions:

  • Pheromonal signaling in gametes is driven by sexual selection, not just passive attraction.
  • Signal strength serves as an honest indicator of gamete fitness.
  • This perspective explains diverse gamete mating behaviors, including rejection of low-quality signals.