#1213 Nathan Lents - The Sexual Evolution: Sex, Gender, and Mating

Feb 9, 2026

Nathan H. Lents, a biology professor and popular science author, explores how 500 million years of sexual evolution shape sex, gender, and mating. He discusses biological definitions of sex, gender behaviors in animals, nonreproductive functions of sex, same-sex behavior across species, monogamy and mating systems, transgender variation, and why societies stigmatize diversity.

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INSIGHT

Sex As Evolutionary Creativity Engine

Sexual reproduction hugely increased evolutionary creativity by combining genomes across generations.
That genetic mixing allowed animals to diversify morphology and behavior rapidly.

INSIGHT

Diversity Trumps Archetypal Sex Roles

Optimizing for a single male or female archetype erases natural diversity and misleads interpretation.
Many species show multiple successful male and female strategies rather than one optimal form.

ADVICE

Define Sex Precisely When It Matters

Use precise terms like 'gametic sex' or 'chromosomal sex' when clarity matters and acknowledge continuous traits elsewhere.
Recognize multiple sex definitions so clinical care and social understanding align with biology.

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Dr. Nathan H. Lents is Professor of Biology at John Jay College. Dr. Lents is noted for his work in cell biology, genetics, and forensic science, as well as his popular science writing and blogging on the evolution of human biology and behavior. He is the author of several books, the most recent one being The Sexual Evolution: How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender, and Mating Shape Modern Relationships.

In this episode, we focus on The Sexual Evolution. We first discuss what we can learn by looking at the natural history of sex, and how sex is defined. We talk about gender, homosexuality and same-sex behaviors, and whether reproduction is the only goal of sex. We also discuss monogamy and mating systems, and trans people from a biological perspective. Finally, we talk about where prejudice against diversity stems from.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, HEDIN BRØNNER, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, VALENTIN STEINMANN, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, MAURO JÚNIOR, 航豊川, TONY BARRETT, NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY, STEVEN GANGESTAD, TED FARRIS, HUGO B., JAMES, JORDAN MANSFIELD, CHARLOTTE ALLEN, PETER STOYKO, DAVID TONNER, LEE BECK, PATRICK DALTON-HOLMES, NICK KRASNEY, RACHEL ZAK, DENNIS XAVIER, CHINMAYA BHAT, AND RHYS!

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