The genetics, evolution, and maintenance of a biological rock-paper-scissors game

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Source: Science Magazine

Original: https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adw8265?af=R...

Published: 2026-01-01T07:00:11Z

This paper examines the genetics, evolution and maintenance of the biological game of rock-paper-scissors in male Uta stansburiana lizards, which have three morphotypes with throat colors orange, yellow and blue associated with reproductive strategies and territorial behavior[1]. These morphotypes are related to polymorphisms affecting the fitness of the individual and compete for females according to the rock-paper-scissors game dynamics of game theory[1]. Previous models considered the population to be hermaphroditic with phenotypically determined behavior, but this model accounts for diplody and sexual reproduction[1]. The genetic system is represented by a single locus with three alleles o (orange), y (yellow) and b (blue) on the diplodial chromosome with o dominating over y and y dominating over b[1]. This genotypic description leads to the same equilibrium phenotype frequencies as the phenotypic models, but alters the stability of the system and expands the parameter region where all three morphotypes can coexist[1]. The study thus extends the dynamic models to include diploidy, population genetics and sexual reproduction in the context of evolutionary game theory[1].