Female genitalia shunned by researchers

When it comes to the evolution of sexual organs, it turns out the research is decidedly sexist.

A review by an international team has found that while the topic of genital evolution is becoming more popular, the focus is very male-centred.

The study, published today in PLOS Biology, is a follow-up to a 2004 paper that argued in the field of genital evolution most studies measured male genital traits and ignored females.

more…

I’ll study female genitalia for the love of science

no bias, no sexism, I promise.

Shunned!

I’ve been trying to keep my life normal.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/05/07/3999220.htm

“The shape and structure of genitalia will have enormous implications on who can mate with what and this can drive speciation,” he says.

males let’s see
dna insertion
parts or totality
former proposition
hangs externally

females let’s see
dna extraction
parts or totality
former proposition
most internally

Well duh. The female orgasm was similarly shunned for a very long time.
Then again, thirty years ago, doctors thought migraines were largely made up shit.

Because male genetalia are external, they might be easier to keep track of over time…

Not true for all species though ie most birds have internal genetalia only in both sexes.

Speaking of birds, I have read that the females of some species of ducks have evolved ‘maze-like’ vaginas to combat being raped by the male ducks, which in turn have evolved to have specially shaped penises as a way of working around that… and I believe this also occurred in pigs?

[quote=fresnel_chick] Because male genetalia are external, they might be easier to keep track of over time... Not true for all species though ie most birds have internal genetalia only in both sexes. Speaking of birds, I have read that the females of some species of ducks have evolved 'maze-like' vaginas to combat being raped by the male ducks, which in turn have evolved to have specially shaped penises as a way of working around that... and I believe this also occurred in pigs? [/quote] See: "How Chickens Lost Their Penises (And Ducks Kept Theirs) by Ed Yong":http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/06/06/how-chickens-lost-their-penises-ducks-kept-theirs/ and "Ballistic penises and corkscrew vaginas – the sexual battles of ducks also by Ed Young":http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/22/ballistic-penises-and-corkscrew-vaginas-the-sexual-battles/

I guess this is kind of on-topic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mating_plug

A mating plug, also known as a copulation plug, sperm plug, vaginal plug, sement or sphragis, is gelatinous secretion used in the mating of some species. It is deposited by a male into a female genital tract, such as the vagina, and later hardens into a plug or glues the tract together. While females can expel the plugs, the male’s sperm still gets a time advantage in getting to the egg, which is often the deciding factor in fertilization.

The mating plug plays an important role in sperm competition and may serve as an alternative and more advantageous strategy to active mate guarding. In some species, such a passive mate-guarding strategy may reduce selection on large male size. Such a strategy may be advantageous because it would allow a male to increase reproductive success by spending more time pursuing new female mates rather than active mate-guarding.

“sement”… clever :)

Divine Angel said:

“sement”… clever :)

Yeah.

In some species that have mating plugs (some cricket species, IIRC), the males have evolved a hooked penis to facilitate plug extraction.

I think researchers in that area need to lighten up

Watching women trying to sing while having an orgasm is fun