Genetic coupling in mate recognition systems: what is the evidence?

Genetic coupling and coevolution of male and female components have been seen as alternative solutions to the problem of maintaining coordination between the sexes during evolutionary divergence of mate recognition systems. The evidence supposed to provide a distinction between these alternatives is reviewed. In most cases the data are inadequate, but in two examples coupling is clearly absent and in no case is it firmly established as the explanation for the maintenance of coordination. The distinction may only be useful in systems controlled by a few major loci as opposed to polygenic systems. 1989 The Linnean Society