2006-06-20 05:43:31 · 25 answers · asked by strong_and_cool 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
I would assume we are speaking about the scientific purpose for sexual intercourse. Of course, humans, having advanced brains, have come up with many purposes for sex.
Scientfically, humans procreate through sexual intercourse otherwise known as internal fertilization. Some animals reproduce using external fertilization, such as frogs. Other organisms such as bacteria reproduce by copying themselves in a process called budding. This is much like the cell division in our own bodies.
The more complex an organism is the more advanced there reproduction is. Some animals have many offspring to ensure that their DNA propagates through a population. In other words, there is safety in numbers. The less complex an organism's reproduction is the less complex the animal is. Therfore the animal's offspring has a less chance of survival and reproducing themselves. This is why some animals have so much offspring and why some only have one offspring.
A parent is not environmentally 'fit' if it's offspring do not reproduce. The animals that survive and have offspring that reproduce, have the DNA that is 'fit' for their environments. Why do you think parents are so happy when they become "grandma" and "grandpa"? They have been successful in their reproduction, or for the purpose of this post, with their sexual intercourse. Our survival and 'fitness' is not only dependent on DNA but on our ability to survive in our complex social world, which requires a strong supportive environment. Scholars cannot agree about how much DNA and the environment play a role in human survival. I can assure you though that both are very important.
As for the evoultionary aspect, any organism has to reproduce in order to propagate in the world. In order for organsims to reproduce there has to be an inate desire to do so. This desire is controlled by a number of chemicals in our bodies, many of which are hormones. Phenotypes (appearance) have also evolved to make humans more sexually attractive to each other, which helps ensure that sexual intercourse will take place. For example, our loss of hair on our faces and bodies is much more aesthetically pleasing and soft to the touch. This loss of hair also allows us to see many more facial expressions that convey non-verbal messages more clearly to a would be partner.
The simplest form of life, which we are said to have originated from, is bacteria-like in nature. As organsims evolved so did their reproduction. Internal Fertilization is much more successful than external for the simple reason of it taking place 'indoors'.
Evolution is change, plain and simple. This change for humans takes thousands of years, but can be noticed in days or even hours in bacteria. This is the doctrine of uniformitarianism which is used in geology, but can be applied to other fields of science. This doctrine states that present processes help to explain the past. If bacteria can change so quickly and adapt and even resist some things that killed their ancestors, this is clearly a sign of change and hence is called 'evolution'. What you might ask is because bacteria make an exact copy of themselves so how could they ever change? Usually bacteria make exact copies, however there are millions and millions of bacteria and every so often there is a random genetic mutation in some of them. It just so happens that they get lucky because that mutation allows them to survive and pass that trait on to their offspring.
All organisms are different. Humans sexually desire each other and have intercourse for many reasons. But, scientifically there is one reason and one reason only, Internal fertilization (sexual intercourse) is the most successful and advanced means of reproduction and is a result of trial and error (evolution). It helps to ensure our propagation through the population.
2006-06-20 07:41:01 · answer #1 · answered by Noncyclicphotophosphorylation 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an extremely powerful accelerant of evolution. It allows relatively rapid combination of two favorable mutations that randomly have appeared in different individuals to combine into one progeny, who then carries both mutations. The alternative would be that ALL mutations occur in sequence in ONE lineage, which would take an enormous amount of time. If an interbreeding population is composed of, say, 1,000 individuals, then sexual procreation will accelerate evolution by a factor 1,000 compared to each one evolving alone.
2006-06-20 13:10:20 · answer #2 · answered by xharon99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of sexual intercouse is to re-produce. That is the sole purpose.
2006-06-20 12:48:18 · answer #3 · answered by miscillia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Procreation..in order to sustain life as we know it. Since Humans are NOT asexual beings by Gods design. Sex did not start out being a recreational "sport". I guess ou could say the act of sexual intercourse evoled from being a life sustaining nesscessity to a want...a desire to be close to anyone for anyreason. To a psychological and physical need. If that makes sense.
2006-06-20 12:51:56 · answer #4 · answered by mistressofdarkearth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of sexual intercourse is procreation, and it came to be the way of procreating when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as God's punishment.
2006-06-20 12:48:17 · answer #5 · answered by kellykellykelly16 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By having sex we are able to mix our genes with another creating a unique offspring. This creates diversity which is essential to a species ability to survive. Other species also achieve diversity through genetic exchange like sex pilli and conjugation. Intercourse (you spelled it wrong) has evolved in many species to accommodate the ecology of the animal and the behavioral practices of the species.
2006-06-20 13:40:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, DUH the purpose is recreation. to look at it from a pleasure point of view, you would need to be more specific in your question, considering that the only known species of mammal known to do that for pleasure are humans and dolphins, but as a general, things only do so to keep their species alive. ever heard of mating season? its when pheromones in female animals are frequent and strong, so they produce a little more off spring than the rest of the year.
but back to people, i wouldn't say that it evolved, but more along the lines of people didn't think of it as anything special besides natural instinct/want (like hormones) for re-creation purposes, until roaming villages became civilized, and then all heck broke loose.
answer your question?
2006-06-20 13:05:43 · answer #7 · answered by a girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of sexual intercourse is for procreation and to create a bonding so that the male protects the female and their offspring.
2006-06-20 12:52:38 · answer #8 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of sexual intercourse is threefold. First it's to create more humans. Second, it is for the expression of love, and third, it is used as a means of pleasure.
2006-06-20 12:47:43 · answer #9 · answered by lynda_is 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pro-creation, in other words the purpose is to reproduce, to have offspring so that the species will survive as long as possible.
people tend to only have one or two offspring because we have a better survival rate due to our parents' protection
animals in the wild, for example fish produce relatively large numbers of offspring. they have less protection against predators, especailly with their small size.
2006-06-20 15:50:50 · answer #10 · answered by mmmmy_sharona 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋