Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA23641 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from b.edmonds@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 5 Mar 2001 13:45:18 GMT Message-ID: <3AA397C9.3B8FCD14@mmu.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2001 13:42:33 +0000 From: Bruce Edmonds <b.edmonds@mmu.ac.uk> Organization: Centre for Policy Modelling X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.76 [en] (WinNT; U) X-Accept-Language: en To: JOM announcements list <jom-emit-ann@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: New JoM-EMIT paper: Modelling the effects of memetic taboos ... by Derek Gatherer Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: b.edmonds@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: JOM-EMIT@sepa.tudelft.nl
Modelling the effects of memetic
taboos on genetic homosexuality
by Derek Gatherer
Abstract
1 - Introduction
2 - Methods and results
2.1 - Model of selection against homosexuality as an autosomal
recessive trait
2.2 - Simulation 1: Effect of differing value of s on the
incidence
of homosexuality
2.3 - Simulation 2: Introduction of taboo
2.4 - Simulation 3: Fluctuating levels of taboo
2.5 - Simulation 4: Incorporating heterozygote advantage
2.6 - Simulation 5: Heterozygote advantage with fluctuating taboo
2.7 - Simulation 6: Introducing a frequency-dependent taboo
2.8 - Simulation 7: Frequency-dependent taboo combined with
heterozygote advantage
3 - Discussion
References
Abstract
Simple computer simulations of the interaction of genetic factors
and memetic taboos in human homosexuality, are presented.
These simulations clearly show that taboos can be important
factors in the incidence of homosexuality under conditions of
evolutionary equilibrium, for example states produced by
heterozygote advantage. However, frequency-dependent taboos,
i.e. taboos that are inversely proportional to the incidence of
homosexuality, cannot produce the oscillating effect on gene
frequencies predicted by Lynch (1999). Effective oscillation is
only produced by rapid withdrawal and re-imposition of taboos in
a non-frequency-dependent manner, and only under conditions
where the equilibrium incidence of homosexuality is maintained
by heterozygote advantage, or other positive selectional
mechanism. Withdrawal and re-imposition of taboo under
conditions where homosexuality is subject to negative selection
pressure, produce only feeble pulses, and actually assist in the
extinction of the trait from the population. Additionally it is
shown that frequency-dependent taboos assist in a more rapid
achievement of equilibrium levels, without oscillation, under
conditions of heterozygote advantage. An attempt is made to relate
the simulations to past and contemporary social conditions,
concluding that it is impossible to decide which model best
applies without accurate determination of realistic values for the
parameters in the models. Some suggestions for empirical work of
this sort are made.
Key words: gene-meme co-evolution, homosexuality, memetics
available at:
http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit/2001/vol4/gatherer_d.html
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