In a study by Bateson (1983), Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were reared with siblings and later tested for mate preference from among five types: (1) familiar sibling, (2) novel sibling, (3) novel first cousin, (4) novel third cousin, or (5) novel unrelated individual. Both male and female quail subjects preferred individuals who had characteristics that were
A) slightly displaced from immediate family members.
B) very different from immediate family members.
C) very similar to immediate family members.
D) Their preferences were evenly distributed among the five groups.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study found that quail preferred mates that were not immediate family members but not too distantly related either, indicating a preference for genetic characteristics slightly displaced from immediate family members.

In a Study by Bateson (1983), Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix