Why Are There As Many Males As Females?

Evolution doesn’t pick a side!
↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓

In almost every animal species on Earth, equal numbers of males and females are conceived. Why is that? Especially in populations like lions or elephant seals, where most males don’t get to mate? That’s survival of the laziest, not survival of the fittest. It turns out that in most cases, an equal balance of the sexes is the evolutionary stable strategy. From Charles Darwin to Ronald Fisher to W.D. Hamilton to Richard Dawkins, the question of why there’s as many males as females has fascinated biologists. Today, we’ll explain why that is the way it is.

READ MORE:

Fisher, R. A. “The genetical theory of natural selection”

Hamilton, W. D. (1967). Extraordinary sex ratios. Science, 156(3774), 477-488.

-----------
FOLLOW US:

Instagram: @DrJoeHanson

-----------

It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
Director: Joe Nicolosi
Writer: Stephanie Keep
Creative Director: David Schulte
Editor/animator: Karl Boettcher and Derek Borsheim
Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox

Produced by PBS Digital Studios
Music via APM
------

[besmart]

It’s about a lot more than X and Y… evolution insists on a balance.

If you want to learn more about this bit of evolutionary theory, there’s some suggestions in the description. Leave a comment and let me know what you thought of this week’s video!

[colingaul]

"98% of the population just uses up valuable resources." I am in this picture and I don't like it.

[Crilyte]

perfectly balanced, as all things should be

[prahTV]

all I got from this is that I'll never get laid

[EuropeanAndrew]

no no no
You are wrong

25% male
25%female
50%FBI agents

[cyancyborg]

"Like everything in biology, there are lots of weird exceptions to this." Everyone went selectively deaf at that part.

[charmeleonevolves]

Well, I just found a new palindrome.
The word "sexes."

[AN-jffp]

My grandma had 3 girls, my mom had 2 girls ( one of those is me ), my aunt had 2 girl my other aunt had 2 girls, let’s just say there are no young boys in my family

[babyruthless]

Being human is just too damn difficult. I quit.

[XenomorphsWrath]

Hello Vsauce, you went through quite the transformation. Looking good.

[remmy]

Is purple people eater:
Eats purple people
or
Is purple and eats people

[KC_Garcia]

Me: HEY EVOLUTION, PICK A SIDE!
Evolution: no.

[ToneyCrimson]

We need sex robots for those seals..poor guys :( They dont even have hands!

[cheydinal]

That is a great point that I never thought about, thanks for making this

Goes to show that evolution doesn't manipulate the species, but rather each individual within it

[mr.dr.genius]

0:43 You changed your clothes just so you could make that joke.

[jisookim]

That is one aspect of evolution I never thought about and that is neglected in all the biology books I read. Very interesting video that's probably easy enough to understand even for kids. Great effort!

[rithicadevireddy]

"it's not the survival of the moochiest, it's the survival of the fittest" goddamn this is savage! 😂🤣 love it

[na_xy]

1:51
I feel sorry for those (forever alone) elephant seals who even don't have hands
✌✌

[ThePiko]

For such a "smart" channel, the comments are surprisingly dumb

[saileshsharma]

That last poetry was perfect for a "SkillShare" advertisement.