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Behavioral phenodeviance: A Lerneresque conjecture

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Abstract

Developmental instability, detectable in morphological and meristic characters, is typically associated with reduced fitness. The actual mechanism by which fitness is reduced in these cases is difficult to identify. We propose that developmental instability also manifests itself at the behavioral level and that when this occurs, behavioral phenodeviance is the result. According to this model, abnormal or phenodeviant behavior compromises fitness. Examples are provided fromDrosophila and man.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Arizona State University, 85287, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Therese Ann Markow

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Irving I. Gottesman

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Irving I. Gottesman

Authors
  1. Therese Ann Markow
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  2. Irving I. Gottesman
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Markow, T.A., Gottesman, I.I. Behavioral phenodeviance: A Lerneresque conjecture. Genetica 89, 297–305 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02424522

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02424522

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