Challenging Darwin't theory so sexual selection. From: Daedalus | Date: March 22, 2007| Author: Roughgarden, Joan | COPYRIGHT 2007 American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

May a biologist in these polarized times dare suggest that Darwin is a bit wrong about anything? Even worse, does a biologist risk insult, ridicule, anger, and intimidation to suggest that Darwin is incorrect on a big issue? We have a test case before us. Darwin appears completely mistaken in his theory of sex roles, a subject called the 'theory of sexual selection.' (1)

In his 1871 book The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Darwin wrote: "Males of almost...