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From: rdc30@nmrdc1.nmrdc.nnmc.navy.mil (LCDR Michael E. Dobson)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: The function of sex?
Keywords: Sociobiology, sex, morality, function, adaptations
Message-ID: <1991May13.211732.25816@nmrdc1.nmrdc.nnmc.navy.mil>
Date: 13 May 91 21:17:32 GMT
References: <635@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au> <1991May9.003218.3510@midway.uchicago.edu>
Organization: Naval Medical Research & Development Command
Lines: 28

In article <1991May9.003218.3510@midway.uchicago.edu> lecl@quads.uchicago.edu (elizabeth e. leclair) writes:
>In article <635@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au> jcollier@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au (John Donald Collier) writes:
[THe original questions and answers deleted, see the referenced articles]
>
>   To the second claim:  Reproduction is a unique outcome of sex, but
>  this says nothing about the quality or morality of alternate outcomes,
>  i.e. pleasure and fun!  All those little nerve endings do not have a
>  direct influence on the success of fertilization or reproduction, but
>  they have their own "function." i.e. they react to input like any other
>  Why anyone should deny these little nerves their function anytime 
>  conception is being prevented should explain to me why these nerves
>   are wired the way they are.  If it was "bad", i.e. a selective
>  disadvantage to have non-procreative sex, then why haven't these
>  wires become *disconnected* in the course of evolution?            
>   
Part of the explanation may have been hinted at above.  Since the fertile
time of a woman's cycle is largely hidden (basal temperature rise and mucous
secretion changes notwithstanding), it would seem to me that the fun aspects
provided by those nerves would lead to increased frequency of sex and thus an
increased chance for pregnacy to occur not to mention strengthening the pair
bond.  This may be almost as important for successful reproduction given the 
long and ardous task of raising the child(ren) to reproductive age.

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