Does Good Symmetry in Nature mean better Genes?

Question

Ofcourse there are good looking people who get cancer, and genetic diseases, but do you think good body symmetry, is natures way of saying i look good on the outside, cuz im also good genes on the inside?.

ejC11, thats good ur a professor, but do u get what im trying to say without all that biolgy lesson?.

Answer 1

I think you misunderstand the meaning of symmetry. In terms of symmetry, organisms can have no symmetry, radial symmetry, or bilateral symmetry. In bilateral symmetry, you can divide an organism into right and left halves and have virtually the same anatomical parts in both halves--you see this in all the vertebrates, arthropods, worms and mollusks. In radial symmetry, you can divide the organism into essentially pie pieces and have virtually the same anatomical parts in each piece--this is seen in the echinoderms (star fish and sand dollars, etc.) and cnidarians (jellyfish, hydras, etc.) Organisms that have no symmetry can not be divided into equal parts--primarily the sponges.

If you're talking about outward appearance, it's all a matter of taste, which is determined by both nature (genetics) and nurture (environment). But I think you're partially right, in reverse--people who have a genetic disease either look less attractive to healthy people, or are less attractive long-term mates because of the disease. This is one of the reasons why genetic diseases are relatively rare when compared to communicable diseases or non-genetic disorders--they procreate less often. These genetic diseases still persist because: a) some genetic disorders don't appear or become a problem until later in life, once the person has matured past reproductive age; b) the genetic disorder doesn't affect the person's ability to mate; or c) the person's mate does not care about the disorder.

Please realize, I'm just looking at the situation you mention in terms of basic genetics and reproductive science. When you talk about humans (and a few other species), you have to factor in emtions--love, devotion, anger, depression, etc.--which can throw the entire equation out of whack.

Answer 2

Yes, in a manner of speaking. If I have genes good enough to give me better symmetry, in spite of developmental insults, then I have " better genes". At least for symmetry. At least for ultimate mate choice. We can discount such, proximately, if we chose. People tend to go with ultimate evolutionary values sometimes, though we can short circuit the ultimate drives; birth control is an example of this.

Answer 3

Symmetry doesn't exist in nature. This is a fact.