Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T11:40:03.276Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The action of natural selection on the human menstrual cycle: a simulation study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Gérard Métral
Gérard Métral
Affiliation:
Institute of Anthropology, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Reproductive performance of the human female is simulated by Monte Carlo methods. The results clearly suggest the operation of natural selection on the length of the female menstrual cycle, brought about by differential fertility. It is argued that the selection pressure towards a shorter cycle, with a selective advantage of approximately 1% per day of shortening, is balanced by internal physiological determinants preventing excessive shortening, so the result is a situation of stabilizing natural selection.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , July 1981 , pp. 337 - 343
Copyright
Copyright © 1981, Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barrett, J.C. & Marshall, J. (1969) The risk of conception on different days of the menstrual cycle. Popul. Stud. 23, 455.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
French, F.E. & Bierman, J.E. (1962) Probabilities of fetal mortality. Publ. Hlth Rep. Wash. 77, 835.Google Scholar
Hertig, A.T. (1967) The overall problem in man. In: Comparative Aspects of Reproductive Failure. Edited by Bernischke, K.. Springer-Verlag, New York.Google Scholar
Leridon, H. (1973) Aspects Biométriques de la Fécondite Humaine. Cahier No. 65. INED, Paris.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Métral, G. (1979) Polygamie et Fécondité Féminine; Etude de l'Influence de Divers Facteurs au Moyen de Simulations Monte Carlo. Thesis no. 1915, Faculty of Science, Geneva University, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Pascal, J. (1969) Quelques Aspects de la Physiologie du Post-partum. MD thesis, Nancy.Google Scholar