Genital Coevolution in Vertebrates: Sexual Conflict as a Driver

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | Dr. Patricia Brennan’s (Mount Holyoke) lab has been using an integrative approach to investigate how the diverse genitalia of vertebrates function, and which evolutionary processes influence their complex morphology. Evidence from birds, snakes, dolphins and sharks highlights the importance of examining male and female genitalia together, and indicates that sexual conflict underlies the evolution of multiple genital features in these groups.