I am a PhD student in the neuroscience program. Sexual attraction and selection are my major interests, and I am currently studying cell-surface molecules on sperm cells in the lab of Pascal Gagneux.
Whereas many think that winning a mate signals the end in the game of sexual selection, there are actually many more biological obstacles for a pair of organisms to hurdle in order for successful procreation. For instance, compatibility between male and female gametes is vital for successful fertilization and survival of the embryo.
I wonder whether such hidden biological (in)compatibilities somehow manifest themselves via attraction between two individuals, and what neural mechanisms exist to mediate the selection of a suitable mate.