Ageing, Mate Preferences and Sexuality: A Mini-Review

Abstract

differences, such as in error management. The most obvious function of sexual behavior is reproduction. To foster the benefits for the offspring, reproduction partners should also develop an emotional bond, which is mediated by hormones connected to sexual intercourse. With increasing age, reproduction loses importance, while pair bonding functions remain relevant. Therefore, sexuality never ceases to be part of a relationship. Biological System ConstraintsIn 1862, Charles Darwin [1] wrote: 'We do not even in the least know the final cause of sexuality; why new beings should be produced by the union of the two sexual elements ... The whole subject is as yet hidden in darkness. ' Charles Darwin was puzzled by the fact that the great majority of animals and plants reproduce sexually. More precisely, he did not understand why males exist. If the world consisted only of parthenogenetic females, reproduction would still be possible. But evolutionary biology has made progress to answer this question: the conventional textbook explanation states that sexual populations can react more quickly to environmental changes than parthenogenetic populations [2] . If two new muta- Key WordsMate choice ؒ Sex difference ؒ Reproduction ؒ Error management ؒ Evolution ؒ Sexuality AbstractThe evolutionary constraints that lead to the evolution of sexual reproduction are framed by the better repair mechanisms that repair fatal mutations, as well as the need for variable immune systems imposed on large organisms by parasites, such as viruses and bacteria. Besides the evolution of sexual reproduction, these factors also affect mate choice, especially as regards the gene complex that encodes the immune system. The need to increase both the likelihood of gametes to encounter each other as well as sufficient provision of nutrition for the offspring then leads to the evolution of two sexes: large numbers of small mobile sperms ensure that gametes meet, whereas large egg cells full of energy provide for the zygote, thus leading to a developmental advantage. The asymmetric investment in the offspring then affects not only mate choice criteria, but also cognitive strategies. Men place more importance on youthfulness and fertility than women, who regard resource holding potential as a more relevant criterion. Consequently, female jealousy is connected to endangered access to resources, whereas male jealousy is rooted in paternal uncertainty. Cognitive adaptations developed to ensure reproductive success show sex

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“…35 Because of the small number of participants in this study reported a history of smoking and none of them were currently smoking and drugs, there was no relationship between smoking and overall marital satisfaction. 36…”

Pairomics, the omics way to mate choice

“…For example, men place more importance on youthfulness and fertility than do women, who regard resourceholding potential as a more relevant criterion. 24 Although paternal age of reproduction is associated with telomere length and increased lifespan in the offspring, [25][26][27][28] lower maternal reproductive age is a factor in the evolutionary maintenance of female reproductive senescence and menopause. 29 In the last few decades, genetic counseling, artificial fertilization (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation diagnosis (PID), and prenatal diagnosis (PND) have added new tools and cues to human reproduction and evolution.…”

Pregnancy after percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration in an 81-year-old man with obstructive azoospermia

“…The male reproductive potential status can result in more offspring in spite of increasing age. In fact, male and female lifetime strategies are as different as their mate selection criteria and the resulting cognitive differences (Oberzaucher & Grammer, ; Nijs et al ., ).…”