February 26  Jay Phelan,  UCLA Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
Symmetry, attractiveness, and developmental stability among "biracial" and "uniracial" individuals.
Developmental stability, reflected in an organism's bilateral symmetry is strongly associated with longevity, health, and fitness. Symmetry and developmental stability have also been shown to increase with an organism's heterozygosity. To the extent that greater levels of heterozygosity occur among the offspring of human biracial couples than among those of within-race matings we should expect similarly increased developmental stability in these biracial individuals. I will discuss some of my ongoing research on both symmetry and attractiveness among biracial individuals relative to individuals whose parents are both from the same race and relate it to the broader issue of heterozygosity as a determinant of homeostasis.